Police responded to a call on August 10, 2011 of a shooting at the residence at 7:53 p.m. in Raeford, North Carolina.
This is not just another shooting death, it is a woman recently wed to a man who says he was in another room when the gun went off, claiming she committed suicide as her two young children were at the movies with others, and they were alone in the house.
Amanda Graham Barker Locklear, a former police officer, who, at the time of her death, worked for Cape Fear Valley Hospital as a "Life Link" Supervisor, and,by all reports, was a very happy and loving mother, likely did not take her own life.
The prior pattern of conduct of the officer involved in this case, Kevin Locklear, is disturbing, but may not be considered should charges be filed.
Before I receive all those lovely fan emails that often arrive when I post these specific cases of O.I.I.P.V. (officer involved intimate partner violence), let me be clear that this case has nothing to do with how well one might "believe" they know the parties involved. Or perhaps they "saw the happy couple together" and want to believe that a police captain in this small town is not capable of shooting anyone. We never want to believe someone personally known to us could be capable of such a horrific act. Consider this, if no one heard shots go off, as was reported, then no one heard any type of arguing or trouble behind closed doors.
In cases of intimate partner homicide, especially with prior history of O.I.I.P.V., there is often a pattern of conduct and behavior that is deadly. Many departments across the country do not have the enhanced training to investigate these cases properly, especially when the person in question has more crime and street experience than most in the same towns where they are commissioned as officers.
I'm concerned with the confidence in the SBI analysts in the North Carolina lab conducting a proper investigation after last year's shake up with over 230 cases of mishandled evidence; and I do not want to see the "good old boy network" working from inside the blue walls and dismiss important evidence in the case that should include ballistics, personal computers and cell phones among other evidence at the crime scene.
Kevin Locklear's pattern of conduct appears to date back to 1993:
PSPRO Chief Locklear was found guilty in the assault charge back in 1993 he appealed the verdict and it was overturned in superior court Fayetteville observer
Behind The Blue Wall, a fantastic site which chronicles officer involved intimate partner violence, posted the story from 2007, when the then Chief of police in Raeford, was ultimately fired for hurting his previous wife. Link- http://behindthebluewall.blogspot.com/2007/11/nc-chiefs-wife-erlina-locklear-said-her.html
From the site's administrator at Behind The Blue Wall, within the comment section under the story, are her words, almost like a prediction in 2007, which ultimately rang true in this specific case:
"EVEN if you are friends with Kevin - don't take sides like kids. Make SURE she has what she needs also - especially safety. Usually in police families there is a threat to the woman that if the abuse comes to light and threatens the job - that much worse will happen to her."
There is no question officers face a high amount of stress on the job and this spills over to their personal lives. When a relationship goes south for some law enforcement officers because the relationship is ending or crumbling, or perhaps the other person has met someone new, they lose control. Often losing that control can result in killing those closest to them. Some law enforcement officers commit murder and then turn the gun on themselves, while others, smarter than their counterparts, or so they believe, will take chances similar to betting the house at Vegas and wait until they are caught. Depending on their veteran skills and crime scene knowledge, some law enforcement officers have yet to be charged in the murder of a spouse or girlfriend while others are charged or dismissed from the force.
As a specialist in training, especially in cases in the area of O.I.I.P.V., I am far from letting go of this case. If Amanda's family would like to contact me I can be reached at murphymilano@gmail.com or click this link and fill out the form at nysleuth.com, or call 1-800-490-2267
Behind The Blue Wall, a fantastic site which chronicles officer involved intimate partner violence, posted the story from 2007, when the then Chief of police in Raeford, was ultimately fired for hurting his previous wife. Link- http://behindthebluewall.blogspot.com/2007/11/nc-chiefs-wife-erlina-locklear-said-her.html
From the site's administrator at Behind The Blue Wall, within the comment section under the story, are her words, almost like a prediction in 2007, which ultimately rang true in this specific case:
"EVEN if you are friends with Kevin - don't take sides like kids. Make SURE she has what she needs also - especially safety. Usually in police families there is a threat to the woman that if the abuse comes to light and threatens the job - that much worse will happen to her."
There is no question officers face a high amount of stress on the job and this spills over to their personal lives. When a relationship goes south for some law enforcement officers because the relationship is ending or crumbling, or perhaps the other person has met someone new, they lose control. Often losing that control can result in killing those closest to them. Some law enforcement officers commit murder and then turn the gun on themselves, while others, smarter than their counterparts, or so they believe, will take chances similar to betting the house at Vegas and wait until they are caught. Depending on their veteran skills and crime scene knowledge, some law enforcement officers have yet to be charged in the murder of a spouse or girlfriend while others are charged or dismissed from the force.
As a specialist in training, especially in cases in the area of O.I.I.P.V., I am far from letting go of this case. If Amanda's family would like to contact me I can be reached at murphymilano@gmail.com or click this link and fill out the form at nysleuth.com, or call 1-800-490-2267
I first learned about the pattern of conduct in O.I.I.P.V. cases, from a veteran Chicago police detective, spending 18 years on a crime scene I would soon rather forget, where officers always showed up but never made an arrest. No one ever believed my mother was a victim of O.I.I.P.V., that is until she was murdered in 1989. My father, as so many do across the country, would make good on his promise to my mother, "if you leave, I will find you, if I find you, I will kill you."
My training and work for over 20 years in the area of O.I.I.P.V. and high risk cases has kept victims alive, and those silenced, closer to justice after case work up, investigation and pressure to review information and evidence often missed by those without enhanced training as it relates to all intimate partner violence crimes.
It will be another week before results are available as to the cause of death by the Medical Examiner's Office.
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Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is a specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies and high risk cases and available for personal consultations through the Institute. She is also part of the team at Management Resources Limited of New York.
Susan is the author of "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships,"Moving out, Moving on, and Defending Out Lives. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host on Crime Wire.
Susan is the author of "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships,"Moving out, Moving on, and Defending Out Lives. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host on Crime Wire.
If you would like to schedule Susan Murphy Milano for interviews, please contact: ImaginePublicity PO BOX 14946 Surfside Beach, SC 29587 Phone: 843.808.0859 email- contact@imaginepublicity.com
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