Mom tries to prevent more children from being murdered by abusive fathers (LeRoy, Illinois)

We've reported on the murder of these two boys by their father, MICHAEL CONNOLLY, before. The mother continues to be an activist in protective mother issues, and is trying to prevent future murders.

http://www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/news/local/LeRoy-Boys-Mother-Trying-to-Prevent-Similar-Tragedy-118878484.html

LeRoy Boys' Mother Trying to Prevent Similar TragedyBy WEEK Producer
March 29, 2011

Updated Mar 29, 2011 at 6:29 PM CDT

The death of two LeRoy boys at the hands of their father shocked the area two years ago this Tuesday, March 29th.

The boys' mother, Amy Leitchenberg is fighting to prevent the same thing from happening to someone else.

Jack, 7, and Duncan, 9, were abducted and murdered by their father Michael Connolly, he then committed suicide after killing the boys.

She says the tragedy still haunts her saying, "You know, I believe the first year was much of a blur. This year is much harder. Because it's real. They're not coming home. That door is not going to open at 3:15 from school. But I can't let him win. I can 't let any other parent feel like this. This is no pain any parent should feel. There are no words for this pain."

Leitchenberg says supervised visits at the Family Visitation Center in Bloomington would have allowed Connolly to see the kids in a safe environment, but low funding, among other things prevented that.

Now she wants to make sure the center is well funded for future use.

Leitchenberg is one of the organizers of the "Steps to End Child Abuse" on April 17th at Bloomington's Tipton Park.

For more information go to http://www.childrenshomeandaid.org/