“Michiganders, thank you for hearing the voices of victims’ families and standing together to say: no more Karen McDonald.” Denis Mom

My dear fellow Michiganders,

Thank you. Thank you for listening to a grieving mother.

Thank you for hearing my voice. And today—thank you for showing me what truly matters.

Today, you reminded me who has the loudest voice in this country.

Not power.

Not money.

Not campaign donations.

Not connections. The people. Your voice.

And today, your voice said something powerful: No more. No more corrupt Karen McDonald.

Victims life mattered.

I came to this country when my son Denis was just two years old, chasing a dream—to give him a life full of opportunity. And I did. I gave him a beautiful, though far too short, life—one I could not have given him anywhere else in the world.

That is why I chose United States of America as my home. Seven years ago, my son was taken from me in the most heinous and brutal way—captured live on Snapchat. Those videos don’t just exist—they haunt me. They wake me in the middle of the night and replay the nightmare no mother should ever have to live through. Justice was working… until Karen McDonald turned her back on victims and the people she was sworn to protect, and in doing so, helped a criminal escape accountability for my son’s death.

The pain was unbearable—but for two years, I had faith. I saw justice working. I believed in a system that is supposed to protect victims and their families.

Then everything changed when Karen McDonald became prosecutor.

For the last five years, my grief has been doubled. Not only was I mourning my son—but I was forced to fight a prosecutor who was supposed to protect him… and protect families like mine. I was not fighting because I don’t know what happened to my son. I was fighting because I believe my son was abandoned—for connections and campaign donations.

Karen McDonald, took away my son’s rights and shifted the focus away from justice. Relationships, campaign donations, and connections—including those involving defense attorney Neil Rockind—were allowed to come before a victim’s voice.

No prosecutor should ever abandon a victim.

No mother should ever have to fight the very system that is supposed to stand with her.

For five years, that is exactly what I have been going through. But today—thanks to you—everything changed.

Today, you stood up not just for my son, Denis, but for every victim and every family who has felt unheard, ignored, or pushed aside.

You showed that accountability still exists.

You showed that truth still matters.

You showed that the people will always be stronger than power.

And because of you, today I feel something I have not felt in a long time—hope.

Hope that justice is still possible. Hope that my son’s voice is still alive.

Hope that no matter how long it takes, truth will rise. So today, I say his name with strength and pride—because of all of you: Say his Denis Preka.

His voice will not be silenced.

His story will not be buried.

And I will never stop fighting for him.

I love you, Michiganders. And this is why I decided to call this country my home—because in the end, your voice is stronger than anything else.

Karen McDonald—you will be held accountable. You underestimated my fight for justice

Today, Michiganders chose truth over influence.” “With all my heart, A mother who will never stop fighting for her child.

 Justice for Denis. Justice for every family harmed by abuse of power.

Denis’s Mom