Former Antioch mayoral candidate charged in wife's murder, 10 years after it was ruled a suicide
"My mother did not deserve what happened to her."
MARTINEZ, Calif. (KGO) -- A former Antioch mayoral candidate is charged with murder in his wife's death --more than ten years after it was deemed a suicide. Now their adult children are waiting for justice.
On Monday, the 66-year-old suspect's arraignment was postponed.
This is after the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Cold Case unit determined that Brenda Joyce Leon did not die from suicide.
The prosecutor says Leon was killed by her husband.
Outside the Contra County courthouse in Martinez, California on Monday afternoon, family of Leon say they have new hope in their pursuit for justice.
"Our family has not given up hope," said Monica Tagas, Leon's daughter. "My mother did not deserve what happened to her. We have been seeking justice for her for the past 10 years."
The Contra Costa County DA's office says it has new evidence now thanks to "digital forensic technology" to show that Leon did not die by suicide in September 2015 as originally thought.
"It was improvements in digital forensics are what moved the needle and led us to charge this case,' said Satish Jallepalli, Contra Costa County Deputy DA.
The key evidence - data about the Leon's alleged suicide note.
"The note was on a laptop on the end of the bed. And it was not authored on that laptop... on some other device," said Family Attorney Matthew Guichard.
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The prosecution believes that Leon, who was 52 at the time and living at a home in Antioch, was murdered.
Leon's 66-year-old husband was arrested last Thursday and charged with murder.
For the past 10 years, he has been living at the same Antioch home where Leon was killed.
"We have a long road and a big fight ahead of us. And we are not going to stop until we see this person that I'm ashamed to call my father behind bars," said Tagas.
"It's bittersweet for the family--that the father murdered the mother. That's heartbreaking. But, we believe that justice has not been done and a wrong that happened 10 years ago has been righted," said Guichard.
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If convicted, the suspect faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison.
ABC7 News is not naming the suspect until he has officially been charged in court.
That is now scheduled for February 10.
