In the aftermath of Santa Clarita resident Michelle Dorsey’s murder at the hands of her estranged husband two weeks ago, her family has been left to pick up the pieces in the face of new policies set by District Attorney George Gascón which could allow her killer to be eligible for parole in only 20 years.

Dorsey is remembered by those who knew her as “the most amazing mother, daughter, sister and friend,” they had ever known, and the idea that her killer could only serve a mere two decades for her murder is no less than an insult, according to her family.

Dorsey’s mother, Cheryl Smith, noted that her daughter was very family-oriented, and would often arrange activities and trips for the entire extended family, even establishing a family tradition of visiting the Great Wolf Lodge every year. 

“Anything that the boys would enjoy she did,” Smith said. “She took them fishing, she was the one that would make reservations for camping and tell us we were going, she would be out bike riding with them. She was everything to us, she was our rock.”

Smith is now the legal guardian of her three grandsons, aged 9, 11 and 13, working alongside her surviving children to ensure that the boys have a loving home while they attempt to build new lives without their parents. 

“She was the best mother that you could’ve ever asked for,” said Jessica Jordan, Dorsey’s sister. “She did so much with those boys, she took them fishing and she took them camping… She was so dedicated to them and just loved them with her whole heart and soul.”

See Related: Family Remembers Santa Clarita Murder Victim Michelle Dorsey, Asks For Continued Financial Support

Dorsey’s estranged husband, James Matthew Dorsey, better known as “Matt,” has been charged with several felonies related to the events of the morning of Thursday April 15, including first-degree murder, attempted kidnapping, home invasion, evading law enforcement and assault on a peace officer, according to Dorsey’s family.

“I want justice for her,” Smith said. “He went in there with the intention of kidnapping her.” 

The murder suspect is a resident of Washington state. He drove down from Washington state on Wednesday, the day before the murder, according to homicide investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“He needs to do life in prison, he premeditated this, he thought about this,” Smith said. “To let a murderer out when they know he did it… It is very unsettling. The boys are scared, they think he’s going to come kill them.”

See Related: City Council Issues Vote Of No Confidence For D.A. Gascón

Santa Clarita City Councilmember Jason Gibbs weighed in on the issue during a City Council meeting on Tuesday. 

“Gascón has instructed all his prosecutors that the death penalty will not be sought under any circumstances, sentencing enhancements like lying in wait or murder in commission of a burglary were pulled from the charges listed in the criminal complaint, which means that a possible result of life without parole has been limited to possibly being eligible for parole in 20 years,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs reflected on his own experience with family members who had been victims of attacks perpetrated by their estranged husbands, saying that the response from the District Attorney’s office stating that “the charges filed are consistent with our policy” is not acceptable. 

“Gascón has abdicated his duties to appropriately prosecute criminals and fight for victims,” Gibbs said. “When his policies are telling the public that a man can be tried for the cold-blooded murder of his wife and leaving their three children parentless, can pay (his) debt to society in 20 years, (Gascón) has destroyed justice for Michelle Dorsey for the sake of his own personal views.”

In March 2021, the Santa Clarita City Council unanimously took a vote of no confidence for Gascón, as several City officials believe that his actions since being sworn “risk safety of the general public.”

“She fought for her life and for her boys, and ultimately she lost it,” said Danielle Quemel, a longtime friend of Michelle Dorsey. “(Matthew Dorsey) deserves to pay the rest of his life in jail.”

Quemel has stepped up to become a spokesperson against Gascón’s policies, especially in light of the lack of special enhancements being included in the charges leveled against Matthew Dorsey. 

“It’s heartbreaking, and it’s sad that a hero had to step up,” Quemel said. “She was that hero and she lost her life that day and he can still live… Matt could be out in 20 years and he’ll be 62 and he’ll still have a life. Michelle can’t do that because he took hers.”

Quemel is also planning a special fundraiser for the surviving Dorsey family which is set to be held Friday, April 30, at the Paseo Club in Valencia

See Related: Friends Of Michelle Dorsey Announce Community Fundraising Event To Support Family

Since Dorsey’s death, the community has come together to support her family, offering donations of clothes, toys, pet food and more to her children and their guardians. 

“The outpouring of love and support that we have felt through this process has been so amazing,” Jordan said, holding back tears. “The Sheriff’s Department has been working with us and they have been doing just a phenomenal job of keeping us informed and letting us know what’s going on. The outpouring of love that my sister is receiving and these kids and our family, it means the world to us. It’s been amazing.”

Residents who want to donate to the Dorsey family online can do so through the Santa Clarita Disaster Coalition by clicking here.

Santa Clarita residents wanting to help by donating items to the family can drop their contributions off at KHTS Radio.

KHTS Radio is located at 24320 Main Street, Newhall, and can be contacted at 661-298-1220.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.