Grandmother Kills Granddaughter’s Mother and Herself in Manhattan to Secure Full Custody for Her Son
(Obtained by the NY Post)
In a shocking and heartbreaking turn of events, new court documents reveal that the recent murder-suicide of Marisa Galloway by her former mother-in-law, Kathleen Leigh, was part of a twisted plot to secure full custody of Galloway’s 4-year-old daughter, Lili, for Leigh’s son, Zachariah Reed.
The tragic incident occurred last month on a quiet Manhattan street when the terminally ill ex-Chicago probation officer, Leigh, 65, fatally shot Galloway, a 45-year-old special education teacher, before turning the gun on herself. The devastating act has left Galloway’s parents, Nancy and John Galloway, reeling with grief and concern for their granddaughter’s future.
The New York Post reported, In response to the tragedy, the Galloways have filed an emergency court petition, claiming that Reed has taken Lili to his “multimillion-dollar home” in Chicago under the guise of “mourning” his mother’s death. According to the petition, Reed has cut off all contact between Lili and her maternal grandparents, refusing even to allow video calls.
The court papers allege, “Clearly, [Reed’s] mother had a deliberate plan to kill Marisa in order to provide custody for her son. Unfortunately, [Reed] has demonstrated an absolute intention to further those same goals of his mother as he has refused to provide us with any access to Lili at all in almost 3 weeks.”
The Galloways, who live in Cape May, NJ, are now asking a Manhattan Supreme Court judge to grant them the parenting time Marisa had under a 2022 custody agreement. They are also requesting that Reed be required to remain in New York City until Lili turns 18 to ensure she maintains a close relationship with them and her half-sister, Mariel, a 1-year-old daughter Marisa had with a sperm donor, News 12 Westchester reported.
Nancy’s affidavit paints a picture of the close bond she and John shared with Lili, describing frequent visits, shared activities like gardening, and teaching Lili to bake and speak French. The Galloways worry that without intervention, Lili will become estranged from her mother’s side of the family and lose the connection with her little sister, Mariel.
The petition details the “tumultuous relationship” between Marisa and Reed, citing interference from Leigh as a significant factor in their split. The custody agreement they reached included a provision that the terms would remain binding on their estates if either parent passed away.
Nancy expressed her deep discomfort with the need to file the petition but stressed that it was necessary to protect Lili’s relationship with her family. The Galloways are committed to staying in Marisa’s East 86th Street apartment during weekday visitations and are demanding daily video calls between Lili and Mariel.
The legal battle now unfolding in Manhattan seeks to determine what is in the best interest of Lili, as her grandparents fight to maintain their role in her life after a tragedy that has shaken the family to its core.
