A Desperate Father Kills his Children to Get Rid of Their Demons
The emotional rollercoaster of watching a loved one spiral into the clutches of substance abuse is fraught with sleepless nights, unanswered questions, and the constant struggle between enabling and tough love.
The cycle of lies, broken promises, and erratic behavior takes a toll on mental and emotional well-being, often leaving families in a state of perpetual uncertainty. 69-year-old Michael Leigh had watched his two children suffer under the weight of their addictions for years.
46-year-old Dennis and 43-year-old Danielle lived with Michael and his wife, and the siblings both used extensively. Danielle had schizophrenia, a condition that was worsened by her taking.
Michael and his wife were no strangers to unannounced visits from the police at their home, as there were often violent altercations taking place between Dennis and Danielle. For years, the siblings had been stealing from their parents.
Whether it was money or prescription medication, it didn't seem to matter. Not only that, but they also verbally berated the elderly couple and sometimes resorted to violent action. For Michael Leigh, his home had been turned into a living hell, and he was reaching a breaking point.
On March 24, 2013, at 3:30 a.m., Michael Leigh placed a call to 911. Just a few days before the call, he and his wife had returned to their home after a few days away in Ocean Shores in Washington.
When they came back, their house was in shambles. Their two children, Dennis and Danielle, had gotten into a violent altercation, and the police had been called. Danielle, while under the influence, had tried to attack her brother with a knife.
Her brother Dennis then retaliated by hitting her. When the police arrived at the scene, it was noted that it was the 167th visitation over the past year, indicating just how frequently these tumultuous blowouts between the two siblings would occur.
The morning of Michael's 911 call was no different to any other in theory, but something within him had changed. He could no longer fight. Throughout the years, he had paid for numerous trips for his children to go to rehabilitation centers to try and get clean, but no matter what, it never seemed to work.
On that fateful morning, he decided to try and free his children from their demons one last time. Michael quietly took out his 22 caliber semi-automatic handgun and crept along the halls, making sure not to wake his sleeping wife or his two grandsons.
He entered his daughter Danielle's room and placed a pillow over her head as she slept. Then, he placed the gun over the pillow and then he took out his handgun and fired a shot. It was the first time Michael had ever fired the weapon.
Michael then made his way downstairs to the living room where his son was asleep on the couch. Similarly to how he had done with Danielle, he placed the very same pillow over his son's head and fired another shot.
Feeling utterly defeated, he went to the kitchen and dialed 911. Throughout the call, Michael sounds weary as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. He confesses to the dispatcher that he has committed a father's worst sin and killed his two children.
He then says he has to shoot himself, but he doesn't want his wife or grandkids to find all the bodies. He stated to the dispatcher that he needed to put his kids out of their misery and get rid of their demons.
Throughout the call, he groans and mumbles as if somewhat sedated, reeling from the reality of what he has just done. At one point during the call, Michael says that he can hear his son moaning and that he should go back and shoot him as an act of mercy, but the dispatcher encourages him to stay put.
Officers rushed to the scene and surrounded the perimeter of the house. Michael placed the gun on the kitchen counter and walked out the front door with his hands up. He was swiftly taken into police custody.
When first responders reached the two siblings, they discovered that both were breathing, but were unresponsive. Later that day, Danielle passed away. Dennis was put on life support but succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
During the trial, friends and family testified on Michael Leigh's behalf, stating that his two children had put the family through hell and that the Leigh had endured years of endless abuse at the hands of the troubled siblings.
Dennis Leigh's daughter also gave a statement in testament to this to the court; ‘One day he'd be my dad and the next day he wouldn't. I didn't understand, it just scared me growing up.’
She asked Judge Gerald Johnson for leniency for her grandfather and that she didn't want him to serve any jail time. She also stated that Michael shouldn't be there and that he would be better off at home with his family.
It seemed that the general consensus among friends, family, and the defense team was that Michael League was a kind man who was simply pushed to his limit and in an act of pure desperation made a terrible decision.
Michael ultimately pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. The prosecution asked for 32 years in prison while the defense asked for the judge to consider the nature of the offense and the circumstances surrounding it.
While Judge Johnson did concede that a terrible crime had been committed, he also stated that there was a degree of provocation from the two children as well as effects from a life of long-term abuse.
He decided on a drastically reduced sentence, determining that the maximum term would be five years for each murder, served concurrently. In the courtroom, Michael Leigh wept. He said he wept not for himself, but for his children and his wife.
He added, ‘I take full responsibility for what I did. I loved my children when they were born. I love them now and I always will no matter what happened. I will never forget my children and I will live to regret what I did for the rest of my life.’
As Michael was let out of the courtroom after the verdict, his family and friends shouted out, We love you Michael.
In the depths of their desperation, some parents might make unthinkable decisions to save their children from the abyss of addiction. While these decisions might stem from a place of profound love and concern, they can manifest in ways that shock and disturb, as individuals grapple with their own helplessness in the face of destructive force.
The cacophony of pain, turmoil, and years of abuse at the hands of had worn him thin until he found himself in the darkest crevice of despair. In the end, the story of Michael League's tragic choice serves as a somber reminder of the far-reaching impact of addiction.
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