Danny's Story
On July 19, 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic’s stay-at-home mandate, the Salas-Anderl family was met with the tragic death of their only son, Daniel Anderl.
An anti-feminist, racist lawyer targeted Judge Esther Salas and gathered her personal identifiable information from the internet, stalked the family, and attempted to carry out a plan to assassinate her.
Six days after Daniel had turned 20 years old, on a Sunday at 5pm, hate came to their front door and rang their doorbell. Daniel answered the door and in protection of his parents, he was killed with one shot to the heart. Mark was shot multiple times.
In a split second, the Salas-Anderl family was changed forever. Their only son was tragically taken by unjustified hate. Mark sustained life-threatening injuries, has undergone over 15 surgical procedures, and continues to struggle with his health.
In the inexplicable and unimaginable after shock of the loss of their one only child, guided by their faith, they choose to forgive the hate that stole their most sacred love, their child. Amid the most painful tragedy anyone can imagine, they have mustered incredible courage and strength to endure and persevere. Now, they choose to celebrate the life of their son and to honor his legacy with their deep belief that “Hate is Heavy. Love is Light.” They choose to do all things to find a new way to live a life that honors Daniel, their love, their light.
Daniel was a hero; he sacrificed his life for his mother and father at just 20 years of age. Now, given his sacrifice, judges’ personal identifiable information is not readily available due to the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2020. The Salas-Anderl family continues to fight for similar legislation at the national level.
Prior to Daniel’s passing, the Salas-Anderl family enjoyed daily, long walks with their dogs. It was these walks that strengthened their family bond and bodies - so much so, that Mark was at the epitome of health and was able to withstand the multiple gunshot surgeries he underwent to save his life.
July of 2021 marked one year since the loss of Daniel and his legacy was honored with the INAUGURAL LOVE IS LIGHT 5K RUN/WALK for a scholarship in his name at his high school, Saint Joe’s in Metuchen. In July of 2022, Daniel’s legacy was honored once more with the 2ND LOVE IS LIGHT 5K RUN/WALK for a scholarship in his name at his grammar school, Saint Augustine’s in Kendall Park.
Both races took place at the North Brunswick Community Park where Daniel played countless baseball games from grammar school to high school. These endowed scholarships now help young men and women ease the financial burden of completing their education and allows them to focus on their academic and professional ambitions.
In August of 2024, the District of New Jersey’s Board of Judges approved the opening of a food pantry named in honor of Judge Salas’s son, Daniel Anderl. This pantry, known as “Danny’s Pantry,” was established in remembrance of the fourth anniversary of Daniel’s tragic death. To transform sorrow into positivity, the District Court established this pantry to assist the many families in need who come through the court doors. Participants in the Pretrial Opportunity Program and ReNew Program and others served by this court may obtain food staples donated to the pantry by the federal court family and friends. The pantry helps alleviate the burdens faced by many poverty-stricken families and individuals and connects the Court to the surrounding community. It brings Danny’s parents great joy to know that our Court is spreading light and love to the community it serves.
Now, on Sunday, June 22, 2025, the law firm of Baldassare & Mara, LLC invite you to join the Baldassare & MaraTHON 5K Run/Walk to benefit Danny’s Pantry. For those of you who say you will be on vacation, are out of shape… or are otherwise committed on June 22nd, we say - wherever you may be, we encourage you to run, walk or even take a short stroll with a loved one, think about Danny… and CHOOSE to celebrate life.
When you do this, you honor the selfless sacrifice of a young man who, in a split second, chose LOVE.
When you Run/Walk for Daniel Anderl, you know that LOVE IS LIGHT!
