Victims' Voices

Nearly 15 years ago, my daughter, Angie Leon, was shot and killed by her estranged husband. Three weeks shy of her 22nd birthday, my daughter was taken from me and her three children. For the rest of our lives, we’ll be the victims of this senseless crime.

None of us has the power to insulate ourselves entirely from criminal behavior. No matter how safely we try to lead our lives, there is always the risk that one day we – or someone we know and love – will be victimized by a fatal car crash, sexual assault, or more violent crime.

At the age of 44 years old I was repeatedly awakened by nightmares. I told my wife I haven’t had this dream since I was a kid.  It became completely debilitating in a short amount of time. 

Natalie Marti’s experience as a victim of crime begins in February 2003 when she, her husband, and their baby daughter were driving home on an Idaho interstate. As her husband, Shawn, prepared to exit the freeway, a drunk driver traveling the wrong way at speeds estimated at 98 mph smashed into Marti’s vehicle.