21-Year-Old Marsy Nicholas Was Months Away From Graduating College And Pursuing Her Dream Of Becoming A Special Education Teacher When She Was Stalked And Killed By Her Ex-Boyfriend In 1983

Katharina Buczek |

Nov 21, 2022

From the minute Marsalee “Marsy” Ann Nicholas was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, she began expressing care and love for everything around her– from animals to nature to loved ones.

Then, as a toddler, Marsy’s family moved to California– and there, she was able to grow her fondness for horses. By the age of ten, Marsy secured the title of Champion English and Western horseback rider.

And in her teen years, she explored a new love of teaching. Marsy worked with countless blind students while attending high school– an experience that would later significantly impact her career dreams.

So, at seventeen years old, she decided to attend UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) in hopes of becoming a special education teacher one day.

Marsy went on to thrive at UCSB, and by November of 1983, the twenty-one-year-old was just a few months away from graduating and securing her degree.

On November 30, though, Marsy’s dreams and life were tragically taken from her. That day, Marsy’s ex-boyfriend stalked and murdered her.

The Nicholas family was, of course, shattered. No one ever thought that something so horrible would ever happen to Marsy, and they attempted to heal.

Just one week after Marsy’s death and on the day of her funeral, though, the Nicholas family was forced to re-live their daughter’s passing all over again.

Marsyslaw.us; pictured above is Marsy

Marsy’s loved ones had stopped at a grocery store to pick up a loaf of bread immediately following her funeral service.

And while they were in the checkout line, Marsy’s mother was approached by the man who took her daughter’s life.

The Nicholas family was shell-shocked and had no idea that Marsy’s killer had gotten out. But, Marsy’s killer was released on one hundred thousand dollar bail only a couple of days after she was murdered.

Thankfully, Marsy’s murderer was eventually brought to justice. But the process took two more years, and the Nicholas family wanted to make sure that no other victims’ family ever unknowingly came face-to-face with a perpetrator again.

So, Marsy’s brother– Dr. Henry Nicholas III– took action. He became a key driver in pushing through legislation known as Proposition 9, the Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy’s Law, and believed that victims should have constitutional rights that are equal to people who are accused and convicted.

And after California voters backed the proposition on November 4, 2008, Marsy’s Law became the most fervent and comprehensive constitutional victims’ rights law in the country.

Following the major win in California, though, Henry did not stop. He went on to found Marsy’s Law For All in 2009– a group whose sole aim was to establish victims’ rights laws in all fifty states’ constitutions and, eventually, get these rights added to the United States Consitution.

Some of the law’s most notable rights include:

-Each victim has the right to be notified about public proceedings and attend any public proceedings that involve the case.

-Each victim has the right to be present and speak in any public proceeding that involves sentencing, plea, or release.

-Each victim has the right to ask and receive a notification when the accused or convicted party is being transferred, released, or has escaped.

Now, Marsy’s Law enables the victims of violent crimes to be treated with respect and dignity. Most importantly, though, none of the rights granted under Marsy’s Law take anything away from the accused or convicted; instead, victims are simply afforded fair and equal treatment.

So, as of 2022, thirteen states have successfully passed this legislation, and six more states are in the process– all thanks to Marsy Ann Nicholas.

“If any good can come of something this horrible– the loss of my sister and the losses of the families of crime victims– it is that these violent acts served as a catalyst for change,” Henry said.

You can read more about Marsy’s Law here.

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