Ellen Griffin Dunne, also known as Lenny, was a remarkable woman who faced many challenges in her life. She was born in 1932 in Arizona, to a wealthy Irish American industrialist father and a Mexican mother. She studied drama at the University of Arizona and married Dominick Dunne, a writer and producer, in 1954. They had five children, three of whom survived infancy, including Dominique Dunne and Griffin Dunne, both actors
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The Tragic Loss of Dominique Dunne
Ellen’s life changed forever in 1982, when her daughter Dominique was brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend John Sweeney. Dominique was a rising star in Hollywood, having appeared in films such as Poltergeist and The Shadow Riders. She had broken up with Sweeney, a chef, after he had abused her physically and emotionally. On October 30, 1982, Sweeney showed up at Dominique’s home and strangled her in the driveway. She was rushed to the hospital, but never regained consciousness. She was taken off life support by her parents on November 4, 1982. She was only 22 years old
The Fight for Justice
Ellen and Dominick were devastated by the loss of their daughter, but they were also outraged by the injustice of the legal system. Sweeney was charged with second-degree murder, but he was acquitted by the jury. He was only convicted of voluntary manslaughter, and sentenced to six and a half years in prison. He was released after serving less than three years. Ellen and Dominick felt that Sweeney had gotten away with murder, and that the law had failed to protect their daughter and other victims of domestic violence
Ellen decided to channel her grief and anger into action. She joined forces with Marcella Leach, another mother who had lost her daughter to homicide, and founded the California Center for Family Survivors of Homicide, later renamed Justice for Homicide Victims. The organization supports families of murder victims with legal assistance, counseling, advocacy, and education. Ellen also became a vocal critic of the criminal justice system, and campaigned for reforms such as the Victims’ Bill of Rights, the Three Strikes Law, and the Death Penalty. She received recognition from President George H. W. Bush and Attorney General Dick Thornburgh for her work
The Legacy of Ellen Griffin Dunne
Ellen suffered from multiple sclerosis since the early 1980s, but she did not let her illness stop her from pursuing her mission. She moved back to Arizona in 1990, where she built a home on the site of her parents’ former ranch. She continued to be involved with Justice for Homicide Victims until her death on January 9, 1997, shortly before her 65th birthday. She was buried next to her daughter Dominique in Nogales, Arizona
Ellen Griffin Dunne was a woman of courage, compassion, and conviction. She turned her personal tragedy into a public cause, and inspired many others to join her in the fight for justice. She left behind a legacy of hope and healing for the families of homicide victims, and a challenge for the society to prevent and punish violence. She was a mother, an activist, and a hero
