My friend Nicole Montalvo was a repeated victim of domestic violence. Court documents show that she was kidnapped by her estranged husband on one occasion where he tried to snap her neck, and violently attacked on many other occasions. Nicole would come to work with black eyes and bruises on her arms. She had reported these incidents to the police and although arrested, her estranged husband would be released from custody with little to no consequences for what he has done. And today, Nicole is no longer alive because she was murdered. Her estranged husband, with whom she was in the process of divorcing, and her father-in-law are both suspects in her murder but haven’t been formally charged in the case just yet despite the fact that her remains were found on their property.

We want victims of domestic violence to feel safe the first time they ask for help. Nicole would be alive today if a law with more serious consequences were in effect, such as raising the Domestic Violence misdemeanor charge to a felony charge for those that wish to inflict physical harm onto others. This law will help to protect all other future potential victims out there and Nicole’s death would not be in vain.

The Nicole Montalvo Law will save lives. Help stop the violence that has caused many women (and men) to lose their lives because of a lack of consequence in repeated offenses. Thank you all so much for your support in bringing justice to all that are and will be affected by DV. We never want anyone else to ever endure what Nicole Montalvo and many others have faced again.