Former Mayoral Candidate Arrested in Wife's Murder Cold Case
A former mayoral candidate in California has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, a case that was originally ruled a suicide nearly a decade ago. Michael Anthony Leon, 66, was taken into custody on Friday by cold-case investigators who allege he staged his wife's death to look like she took her own life.
Original Investigation and New Evidence
In 2015, East Bay police investigating the death of 52-year-old Brenda Joyce Leon determined that she had shot herself in the head. However, after years of suspicion from her daughters, investigators reopened the case. According to a press release from the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, new evidence emerged that led to charges against her husband of 33 years.
Michael Leon now faces charges of murder and personal use of a firearm causing death. The District Attorney's Office stated that investigators "uncovered previously unknown digital evidence and new factual details" that were crucial in filing the charges, though they clarified it was not DNA evidence.
Political Background and Family Suspicions
Three years before the alleged murder, Michael Leon had run for mayor of Antioch, a city in the San Francisco metropolitan area. He came in last place with just 5.6 percent of the vote, losing to Wade Harper who served as mayor until 2016.
Brenda Leon's daughters, Michelle Wonders and Monica Tagas, had long suspected foul play in their mother's death. In 2021, they filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Contra Costa County, alleging an unnamed man "intentionally shot" their mother and forged a suicide note. Their lawyer, Matthew Guichard, confirmed they have now filed a new lawsuit specifically naming their father.
Legal Proceedings and Emotional Impact
Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton praised the family's perseverance, stating: "Brenda Joyce's family never lost faith that the truth would come to light. Today's filing in Contra Costa Superior Court honors that perseverance and demonstrates that cold cases are never forgotten, regardless of how much time has passed."
Guichard told the San Francisco Chronicle that his clients are "ecstatic" about the new charges, having first contacted him nearly ten years ago in 2017. "It's been a long, hard road," he said.
If convicted on both charges, Michael Leon faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison. The case highlights how cold-case investigations can bring closure to families who have waited years for justice.
Remembering Brenda Leon
In her obituary, Brenda Leon was described as someone who "lived life as a friend to all and carried the qualities of loyalty, selflessness, and unconditional love." The tribute added that she enjoyed simple pleasures and found ultimate solace in being a doting grandmother to her grandchildren.
