Victim's Rights Advocate. Leach was a key backer of the Victims' Bill of Rights proposition in California that was approved by voters in 2008. Also known as Marsy's Law, it was named for her only daughter, Marsalee Nicholas, who was killed by an ex-boyfriend in 1983. Leach, along with the families of other murder victims, founded Justice For Homicide Victims. On Nov. 30, 1983, Marsalee Nicholas was lured to her ex-boyfriend's home because he had threatened suicide. As she walked through the door, he shot her in the head, killing her instantly. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Leach and her husband Robert, were contacted by Ellen Griffin Dunne, whose daughter, actress Dominique Dunne, was killed under similar circumstances. When Dunne decided in late 1983 to create a local support organization for the survivors of homicide victims, the Leaches were among the founding members. In 1990, they assumed leadership of Justice for Homicide Victims, after Dunne moved to Arizona, where she died in 1997. Robert Leach served for many years as the president of Justice for Homicide Victims, and Marcella Leach was its longtime executive director. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the group grew to 10,000 members. In addition to various awards by three governors and two presidents, the Leaches were honored by the National office of Victims of Crime. Marcella Leach, who was awarded the National Crime Victim Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005, died from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.
Victim's Rights Advocate. Leach was a key backer of the Victims' Bill of Rights proposition in California that was approved by voters in 2008. Also known as Marsy's Law, it was named for her only daughter, Marsalee Nicholas, who was killed by an ex-boyfriend in 1983. Leach, along with the families of other murder victims, founded Justice For Homicide Victims. On Nov. 30, 1983, Marsalee Nicholas was lured to her ex-boyfriend's home because he had threatened suicide. As she walked through the door, he shot her in the head, killing her instantly. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Leach and her husband Robert, were contacted by Ellen Griffin Dunne, whose daughter, actress Dominique Dunne, was killed under similar circumstances. When Dunne decided in late 1983 to create a local support organization for the survivors of homicide victims, the Leaches were among the founding members. In 1990, they assumed leadership of Justice for Homicide Victims, after Dunne moved to Arizona, where she died in 1997. Robert Leach served for many years as the president of Justice for Homicide Victims, and Marcella Leach was its longtime executive director. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the group grew to 10,000 members. In addition to various awards by three governors and two presidents, the Leaches were honored by the National office of Victims of Crime. Marcella Leach, who was awarded the National Crime Victim Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005, died from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.
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