LOGAN, Utah - Coworkers of a woman murdered by her husband spoke of her commitment to her job and to others.
"She leaves a big hole in our organization and in our community," said Jill Anderson, the Executive Director of Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse. "If you knew Mary, you loved her and she loved you."
Mary Palley worked part-time with the organization for 26 years, helping to give free legal advice to survivors of physical and sexual abuse. Anderson worked alongside her for 22 of those years.
Logan police responded to Palley's home after they say a local newspaper received a letter in the mail from Palley's husband, alleging that something tragic was about to happen or already did.
When police arrived, they found Palley and her husband dead from an apparent murder-suicide. The specifics of the letter have been withheld because of an ongoing investigation, but the newspaper did release one sentence from the story, which read:
"I took my wife...with me because her advancing Parkinson's was robbing her of her mental faculties and filling her life with frustration and despair."
-Herald Journal
Anderson said the news shocked everyone who knew her well.
"We were all devastated," Anderson said.
Anderson added Palley had been to recent board meetings and was involved with the strategic planning of the organization’s future.
"She was an amazing individual, and it's hard to lose one of the good ones," she said.
Palley's family plans to hold a celebration of life for her on March 22.
If one feels moved to make a donation, the family asks that it be made to Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse or to a Parkinson's organization.
