Topline: Michael Anthony Leon faces 50 years to life in prison for allegedly staging his wife’s shooting death as a suicide.
Published: February 3, 2026 1:53 pm ET
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Left: Michael Anthony Leon, Right: Brenda Joyce Leon (via Contra Costa County)
ANTIOCH, CA — A Bay Area mayoral candidate was arrested Jan. 23 on murder charges related to the 2015 death of his wife, which investigators now say was a staged suicide.
Michael Anthony Leon, 66, was taken into custody at his home in Antioch in connection with the shooting death of 52-year-old Brenda Joyce Leon. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed charges of murder and personal use of a firearm causing death.
Michael Leon previously ran for mayor of Antioch in 2012. According to city records, the marketing executive for an HVAC company finished behind three other candidates in that election.
The arrest follows a 10-year effort by the victim’s family to reopen the case. When police found Brenda Leon’s body in 2015, they discovered a suicide note and concluded she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Brenda Leon’s daughters, Michelle Wonders and Monica Tagas, contested those findings. According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle, the daughters remained convinced their mother was murdered.
In August 2021, the daughters filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The legal filing alleged an unnamed person intentionally shot Brenda Leon and forged a suicide note to falsify evidence at the scene, as reported by SFGate.
Court records show prosecutors began reopening the cold case shortly after the civil suit was filed. By 2024, investigators obtained a search warrant that led to the recovery of new digital evidence.
Investigators discovered new digital evidence and factual details that were central to the decision to file charges, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
On the day after the arrest, the daughters filed a new wrongful death lawsuit naming their father as the defendant. Family attorney Matthew Guichard told the San Francisco Chronicle that the family first contacted him regarding the case in 2017.
Guichard said the family is ecstatic after a long process. Prosecutors said the filing honors the perseverance of the family and shows that cold cases are not forgotten.
Brenda Leon was a native of Concord, Calif who worked for her father’s transportation company. Her 2015 obituary described her as a woman who found happiness in her children and grandchildren.
“Brenda Joyce’s family never lost faith that the truth would come to light,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “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.”
Michael Leon is being held at a facility in Martinez in lieu of $1 million bail. If convicted on all charges, Leon faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison. He is scheduled for a second arraignment on Feb. 10.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7, or use online chat services. If you are outside the U.S., local resources are available through international crisis hotlines.
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California Candidate for Mayor Charged in 2015 Murder of Wife
Michael Anthony Leon faces 50 years to life in prison for allegedly staging his wife’s shooting death as a suicide.
By Kate Byrd
Published: February 3, 2026 1:53 pm ET
Left: Michael Anthony Leon, Right: Brenda Joyce Leon (via Contra Costa County)
ANTIOCH, CA — A Bay Area mayoral candidate was arrested Jan. 23 on murder charges related to the 2015 death of his wife, which investigators now say was a staged suicide.
Michael Anthony Leon, 66, was taken into custody at his home in Antioch in connection with the shooting death of 52-year-old Brenda Joyce Leon. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed charges of murder and personal use of a firearm causing death.
Michael Leon previously ran for mayor of Antioch in 2012. According to city records, the marketing executive for an HVAC company finished behind three other candidates in that election.
The arrest follows a 10-year effort by the victim’s family to reopen the case. When police found Brenda Leon’s body in 2015, they discovered a suicide note and concluded she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Brenda Leon’s daughters, Michelle Wonders and Monica Tagas, contested those findings. According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle, the daughters remained convinced their mother was murdered.
In August 2021, the daughters filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The legal filing alleged an unnamed person intentionally shot Brenda Leon and forged a suicide note to falsify evidence at the scene, as reported by SFGate.
Court records show prosecutors began reopening the cold case shortly after the civil suit was filed. By 2024, investigators obtained a search warrant that led to the recovery of new digital evidence.
Investigators discovered new digital evidence and factual details that were central to the decision to file charges, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
On the day after the arrest, the daughters filed a new wrongful death lawsuit naming their father as the defendant. Family attorney Matthew Guichard told the San Francisco Chronicle that the family first contacted him regarding the case in 2017.
Guichard said the family is ecstatic after a long process. Prosecutors said the filing honors the perseverance of the family and shows that cold cases are not forgotten.
Brenda Leon was a native of Concord, Calif who worked for her father’s transportation company. Her 2015 obituary described her as a woman who found happiness in her children and grandchildren.
“Brenda Joyce’s family never lost faith that the truth would come to light,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “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.”
Michael Leon is being held at a facility in Martinez in lieu of $1 million bail. If convicted on all charges, Leon faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison. He is scheduled for a second arraignment on Feb. 10.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
California Candidate for Mayor Charged in 2015 Murder of Wife
Michael Anthony Leon faces 50 years to life in prison for allegedly staging his wife’s shooting death as a suicide.
By Kate Byrd
Published: February 3, 2026 1:53 pm ET
Left: Michael Anthony Leon, Right: Brenda Joyce Leon (via Contra Costa County)
ANTIOCH, CA — A Bay Area mayoral candidate was arrested Jan. 23 on murder charges related to the 2015 death of his wife, which investigators now say was a staged suicide.
Michael Anthony Leon, 66, was taken into custody at his home in Antioch in connection with the shooting death of 52-year-old Brenda Joyce Leon. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed charges of murder and personal use of a firearm causing death.
Michael Leon previously ran for mayor of Antioch in 2012. According to city records, the marketing executive for an HVAC company finished behind three other candidates in that election.
The arrest follows a 10-year effort by the victim’s family to reopen the case. When police found Brenda Leon’s body in 2015, they discovered a suicide note and concluded she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Brenda Leon’s daughters, Michelle Wonders and Monica Tagas, contested those findings. According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle, the daughters remained convinced their mother was murdered.
In August 2021, the daughters filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The legal filing alleged an unnamed person intentionally shot Brenda Leon and forged a suicide note to falsify evidence at the scene, as reported by SFGate.
Court records show prosecutors began reopening the cold case shortly after the civil suit was filed. By 2024, investigators obtained a search warrant that led to the recovery of new digital evidence.
Investigators discovered new digital evidence and factual details that were central to the decision to file charges, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
On the day after the arrest, the daughters filed a new wrongful death lawsuit naming their father as the defendant. Family attorney Matthew Guichard told the San Francisco Chronicle that the family first contacted him regarding the case in 2017.
Guichard said the family is ecstatic after a long process. Prosecutors said the filing honors the perseverance of the family and shows that cold cases are not forgotten.
Brenda Leon was a native of Concord, Calif who worked for her father’s transportation company. Her 2015 obituary described her as a woman who found happiness in her children and grandchildren.
“Brenda Joyce’s family never lost faith that the truth would come to light,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “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.”
Michael Leon is being held at a facility in Martinez in lieu of $1 million bail. If convicted on all charges, Leon faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison. He is scheduled for a second arraignment on Feb. 10.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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