Mother Kills Daughter-in-law for Son to Gain Full Custody of Child
As per court documents obtained by the New York Post, a grandmother killed her granddaughter’s mother before committing suicide, allegedly as part of a twisted plan to secure full custody of the child for her son.
The documents provide a harrowing glimpse into the aftermath of the murder-suicide, which took the life of 45-year-old special-education teacher Marisa Galloway. Kathleen Leigh, a terminally ill ex-probation officer from Chicago, fatally shot Galloway on a Manhattan street last month, then turned the gun on herself.
Leigh’s motive, as suggested by the court papers, was to ensure her son, Zachariah Reed, gained full custody of their 4-year-old daughter, Lili.
Following the tragedy, Marisa’s parents, Nancy and John Galloway, filed an emergency petition in Manhattan Supreme Court. They claim that Reed has fled to his Chicago mansion with Lili, under the guise of mourning his mother’s death, while preventing them from any contact with their granddaughter.
The Galloways argue that Leigh’s actions were a deliberate attempt to remove Marisa and secure custody for her son, a plan Reed is allegedly continuing by denying them access to Lili.
The grieving grandparents, who reside in Cape May, NJ, are now seeking to inherit Marisa’s parenting time, as established in a 2022 custody agreement. They also request that Reed remain in New York City until Lili turns 18 to maintain her relationship with both her grandparents and her half-sister, Mariel—a 1-year-old Marisa had with a sperm donor.
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