Kim Conover: A Promise Turned Deadly

Kim Conover taught second grade at Meadow Elementary School in Petaluma, CA.  On April 9, 2012, Kim attempted to secure an emergency court order of protection against her estranged husband Kevin.  That morning by phone a police officer who filed a police report made a request to Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Virginia Marcoida for Kim to receive a 5 day emergency court order.

The judge denied the request.  Judge Marcoida felt based on the information provided to her that Kim’s Conover’s request did not “present immediate or present danger of domestic violence.”  The couple had a history of domestic violence. On March 5, 2012, Kimberly filed for divorce followed with a temporary order of protection she’d be granted by a judge the following day stating Kevin was violent, assaultive, unpredictable” and “uses firearms and knives.”  Kim Conover the mother of four beautiful children stated she feared for the live's of she and her kids.

In all fairness to Judge Virginia Marcoida, her decision on April 9^th was based on the information and facts presented to her under the law.  Even if Kim Conover was granted an emergency order of protection it wouldn’t have stopped her murder on Sunday April 14, 2012.  Her estranged husband was going to kill her.  Kevin Conover’s promise to Kim, “if you ever leave me and file for divorce, I will kill you.”    Kim was gunned down as she walked out of her divorce attorney’s office on Sunday, then Kevin turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. 

Victims of domestic violence walk a tightrope of emotions when ending an abusive relationship, especially when children are born into the marriage.  A victim wants to stay in an attempt to work out issues for the sake of the kids.  But as the violence escalates in the family or relationship, options are limited. And with the environment so toxic you can cut it with a knife; a victim is unable to clearly create a plan for safety because their life is constantly hanging by a thread. 

A victim of domestic violence lives a constant crime scene from the time they lay their head on a pillow to often not knowing if they will wake up alive the following morning.  The verbal threats as evidenced in the Conover household were their permanent houseguest.  The physical attacks as in most cases of domestic violence were rarely reported to police.  Once a victim is unable to endure the verbal and physical assaults and announces the relationship is coming to an end, their life is now in imminent danger. 

The courts can only do what is allowed under the law.  And court orders of protection are nothing more than a paper trail.  They do not stop bullets.

Victims of intimate partner violence must be educated and taught how to leave with their lives.  For any victim to put their faith in a court of law to manage a potentially lethal matter is reckless and it will get you killed!  

Time’s up for all victims to stop believing that the person to whom you are married or in a dangerous relationship will change.   

Are You In A Highly Lethal Relationship?

Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research: For Law Enforcement, Prosecutors and Judges (National Institute of Justice, June 2009).

The E.A.A. helps victim's to understand their lethality risks in relationships with abusers who have the least propensity to change. Learn more about what the E.A.A. can do for victim's here.

Risk factors that help determine if the abuser will kill the victim. The list below is a combined list from various resources.

__  Threats by the abuser to kill the victim, children or self

__  Fantasies of homicide or suicide

__   Accessibility to weapons

__   A high familiarity with or the use of guns

__   A fundamental belief by the abuser that the victim is owned by the abuser

__   Separation (greatly increase risk)

__   Abuser is obsessive about victim/family and can’t live without them

__   Mental disorders, especially depression, a sense of no hope without homicide and/or suicide

__  Repeated calls to the police and an increase in violence

__  Takes the victim and/or family hostage

__  An increase in the frequency of the cycle of violence, with police involvement in the prior year

__  An increase in the severity of injuries inflicted, with the victim possibly needing medical treatment

__  Abuser used a weapon in prior incidents

__   Abuser caused life-threatening injury in prior incidents

__  Abuser has threatened to use weapons against the victim

__  Abuser has either threatened to or has killed or maimed pets

__  Abuser has raped the victim

__  Abuser beat the victim while she was pregnant

__  Abuser physically abused a child

__  Victim has threatened to commit suicide

__ Recent unwanted separation where the victim obtained an abuse order or filed for divorce

__  Change in custody arrangements and the abuser has limited access to children and partner

 __ Victim has entered a new relationship

 __ Recent symbolic violence (destroying family pictures, marriage license or other property)

Offender Characteristics

What are other lethality risk markers?

In a national study, other lethality markers that multiply the odds of homicide five times or more over nonfatal abuse have been found to include:

(a) threats to kill, 14.9 times more likely;

(b) prior attempts to strangle, 9.9 times;

(c) forced sex, 7.6 times;

(d) escalating physical violence severity over time, 5.2 times; and

(e) partner control over the victim's daily activities, 5.1 times more likely.

Research has also found that:

~ Male abusers are more likely to kill if they are not the fathers of the children in the household.

~ A Chicago study similarly found that death was more likely if the abuser threatened his partner with or used a knife or gun, strangled his partner or grabbed her around her neck, or both partners were drunk.

A series of interviews with 31 men imprisoned for partner murders revealed how quickly abusers turned lethal.

~ Relationships with short courtships were much more likely to end in murder or attempted murder; these relationships were also likelier to end much sooner than those with longer term courtships.

~ Half of the murderers had relationships of no more than three months with the partners they murdered, and almost a third had been involved for only one month.

In terms of female murders of male partners, the research suggests that:

~  Abused women who killed their partners had experienced more severe and increasing violence over the prior year.

~ They tended to have fewer resources, such as employment or high school education, and were in long-term relationships with their partners at the time.

Characteristics of the Batterer

The following factors relate to the batterer's characteristics:

 __ Abuses alcohol or drugs, e.g., "uppers" or amphetamines, speed, angel dust, cocaine, crack, street drugs, heroin or mixtures

 __  Obsesses about the partner: "If I can’t have you, no one will," or "Death before divorce"

__  Exhibits extreme male dominance or attempts to achieve such dominance

__  Exhibits extreme isolation and has a lack of support systems or supportive others, while the partner is central to his existence

 __ Has a history of violence either with other family members or outside the family

__ Depression, i.e., has expressed hopelessness about the future and is unable to see any alternatives to the use of violence

__ Increased risk-taking, i.e., acting out without regard to the legal or social consequences which previously constrained abuser's violence (abuser may become more seriously violent and injure the victim   with visible injuries, or lose job, be arrested for drunk driving, etc.)

__ Abuser has witnessed severe violence between abuser's own parents

__ Has a history of employment or participation in settings where violence has been normalized, e.g., combat

__ Has a psychiatric disturbance, including pronounced disorders such as delusions

Situational Factors

The following factors relate to the batterer's and victim's situation:
   ~  Presence of weapons
   ~  Access/proximity to victim

Special Populations

 ~    Those trained and licensed to carry a badge and/or a gun is also trained to be capable of serious bodily harm. This includes Law Enforcement or Military.

 ~   Those trained to understand criminal behavior are also trained to understand how some criminals get away with serious injury, abduction, or murder. This includes Law Enforcement, FBI, CIA, Military or others who have had training in criminal mindsets.

 ~  Victims need to not confuse the perpetrators career with his character. What he does for a living that might be honorable to society does not mean that is his character and he will not further harm you.

 

Understanding Your Risk 

 ~  The greater the number of check marks the greater the risk.  However, even one check mark means he has a characteristic associated with lethal behavior. Do not dismiss even one check mark. These lethality factors have been developed by professionals in the field who have studied what behaviors are most associated with intimate partner homicide.

 

 Clara Colon, mother of two filed for divorce from her abusive law enforcement husband whom allegedly threatened to kill her and the children. Clara followed the steps of the “EAA” and the suggestions located in the book “Time’s Up” and is alive today.

Implications for Prosecutors

Prosecutors must insist that law enforcement investigators provide them with appropriate information about prior activities, especially those associated with increased risk for lethality. (Research basis: Multiple studies have found similar risk factors for lethality. Although applying risk factors can create false positives, their consideration will avoid false negatives that prove deadly for victims.)

Legal thoughts and implications for the E.A.A. in court cases can be read here

 

 Implications for Judges

For judges to make safe decisions about bail, sentencing or fashioning civil orders, they must insist on appropriate information about abusers' prior activities, including those associated with increased risk for lethality. (Research basis: Multiple studies have found similar risk factors for lethality. Although applying risk factors can create false positives, their consideration will avoid false negatives that prove deadly for victims.)

For more information visit www.documenttheabuse.com

Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education as a educator and specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.

 A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals, victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. 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 onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes : Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up! a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime Susan is also the daughter of a Chicago Violent Crimes detective who murdered her mother before committing suicide.  

Susan Murphy Milano Hosts A Special Hour: Monday April, 12, 2010 at 8PM Eastern Time

A special hour devoted to Domestic Violence, Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence perpetrated by police officers in the home.

Date: Monday April 12, 2010

Time: 8PM EST/ 7PM Central / 5PM PST

Susan Murphy Milano's guest's for the entire hour are:

Joseph Hosey author of the acclaimed book "Fatal Vows The Tragic Wives of Sergeant Drew Peterson." Hosey has been a reporter for the Chicago-area's Herald News since 1999 and has been on the cusp of every major development in the Drew Peterson case. He is the only member of the media to cover Kathleen Savio's inquest, and he broke the stories of her death as well as Stacy Peterson's disappearance.

Steph Watts producer, blogger and has done investigative work with Mark Fuhrman for OTR at FOX News on the disappearance of Stacy Peterson was seminal. She was the fourth wife of Bolingbrook Police Officer Drew Peterson, and prime suspect in her disappearance. This work led to the reclassification of the death of Peterson’s third wife Kathleen Savio, from an accident to a homicide.

And Pastor Neil Schori from the Naperville Christian Church will be with us for the entire hour. Pastor Schori is also a national advocate for victim's of abuse and stalking.

To listen to the show live and participate in the chat room, the direct link is HERE

We will take your call live. The number to call in with questions is:

(347) 326-9337

Charlie Sheen: "Abra Kadabra"

On Christmas day actor Charlie Sheen was arrested in Colorado for attacking his wife. He remained in jail until he appeared before a judge. Bond was set and Sheen posted $8,500 and was released. His wife, Brooke Mueller, also received an order of protection prohibiting Sheen from having any contact with her.

The only reason Charlie Sheen made national headlines for attacking his wife on Christmas day is because Sheen just happens to be a Hollywood actor on a successful television sitcom and is a spokes person promoting fashion style and comfort for men's underwear.



In the real world of everyday folks when a call is made because an individual is beating or threatening the person with whom they are in a relationship, police response and immediate legal action, such as issuing a court order of protection or setting a high bond, can be a magical illusion.

Our nation's legal system is like a magic act. The magician is on stage as they place a magic wand over an object to appear or vanish. Exactly how the legal system for victims of violence responds to the “regular folks” in the real world.

The State of California had ample opportunity to create a working domestic violence and homicide bureau after the Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman murders. At that time the Department of Justice was awarding large grants to municipalities across the country, specifically for intimate violence and homicide. But L.A., who could have set the tone for the country on how to properly handle these cases, was too busy back peddling from the public relations nightmare of the OJ Simpson investigation and trial.


Now actor Charlie Sheen and his wife Brooke Mueller are being investigated by Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services and could potentially have their nine-month-old twin boys, Max and Bob, taken away from them temporarily. Wow! Does DCFS have legal grounds to do this when the incident happened in another State?



Does DCFS pursue or monitor “regular folks” who are not celebrities being threatened or stalked and take away their children? The answer is no! Do they even bother to investigate the claims of “regular folks” where the abuser threatens the lives of innocent children? The answer, is no!

Part two of this special series continues on Thursday, January 7, 2010.

And on January 13, 2010 the Susan Murphy Milano Show returns at 4:00 PM Eastern time. The show topic "Killing Me In The Courtroom."

Deadly Control: Exclusive Report!

Elizabeth Hoult Fontaine

Monday afternoon, in a California courtroom, a domestic relations judge in family court ordered the woman pictured above to return that afternoon to court with her daughters. Her custody was revoked and the children were ordered temporary sole legal and physical custody to a relative back in the State of Texas.
Although investigators are continuing to work this case, it appears clear Elizaberth Hoult Fountaine pulled the trigger that also took the life of her mother.

Found dead behind a front door decorated with a Christmas wreath, their bodies intertwined in the entryway of the home of a friend where they were staying, were Catherine Fontaine, 4, and Julia Fontaine, 2, and Fontaine’s mother, Bonnie Hoult, 67, a retired psychologist.

According to news accounts in L.A., an attorney for Howrey, LLP’s Irvine office [where she was employed], Elizabeth Fontaine filed for divorce last December. About a month ago she left Orange County and moved her daughters and mother to Houston, Tex.

In court documents, Elizabeth Fontaine, who was also a lawyer, made explosive accusations against her husband, claiming he had molested the girls and had an addiction to pornography.

A court psychologist interviewed Catherine 4, documents show, but didn’t see enough to find that molestation had occurred. There was a four-day hearing in August on whether Elizabeth acted in good faith in making the accusation. In the end, a court commissioner allowed the kids' father  unmonitored visits, even as he awarded primary custody to Elizabeth. The divorce was granted in October. Records indicate no charges were ever filed against the former husband.

The mother and kids, with the court's permission, were allowed to move out of state to Texas where she re-opened the case and took her daughter Catherine to be examined by a psychologist, and 3 other experts who reported finding evidence of molestation, according to the court documents.

Within two weeks, a Texas court ordered that the father of the children not have contact with his daughters. He accused his wife of court-shopping, and that is how she was ordered back to the court in California.

The bottom line, a mother murdered her children. The person with whom we first place our trust in as children.


I expect to receive some unique "fan" emails for bringing attention to this case and for what I am about to say:

This mother is no different then the men I highlight weekly on this blog for slaughtering members of their own family.

She was a lawyer and had an upper hand in a legal system that the majority of women who live in violent relationships going through family court deal with everyday. These mothers often pay the price themselves because their child disclosed sexual abuse to them, a therapist or the courts. And many abusers use custody as a means of power and control. It is these women who often find the cell door slam shut on them because they are protecting their children. These mothers, too many to count, deal with the same issues that Elizabeth Fountain faced.

They, too, are in contempt of court because they refused to comply with a court order and turn over the child to the abuser. Most women in the family court system do not have the funds to pay for a skilled lawyer to assist them in matters of divorce and custody.


It is these women whom I directly assist or tragically write about after a homicide. The difference is Elizabeth Hoult Fontaine had a choice. Instead, she murdered her mother and two helpless children who did not deserve to die.

Rap Sheet As Long As Toilet Paper Strikes Again!

In 1994 3-year-old Devin Brewer of Oakland, California was beaten to death by Curtis Martin III. The child he murdered with his fists was the child his then-girlfriend.

This low-life piece of garbage was allowed to plead the murder of the 3-year old down to voluntary manslaughter and was only sentenced to 11 years in prison. He also has a rap sheet about as long as a roll of toilet paper from robbery, burgalry to weapons charges. Did someone miss the 3 strikes and you are out prison rule? Clearly this dangerous repeat felon was going to strike again. Over the weekend his was arrested.

This past weekend his current girlfield Zoelina Williams was found fatally beaten and her body discovered with a bullet in her head. On Sunday police disovered what looked like her 17-month old child Jashon's body found floating near by dead in the water.

What do I have to say to get people to understand that once someone is an offender, they will do it again. No amount of rehabilitation on this planet will change an individuals violent, controlling and deadly actions.

Believeing that a person with whom you are romatically involved or married too, if they are abusive or have served prison time, you need to get your head out of the clouds and realize you will wind up seriously injured or killed yourself if you do not get the hell out of that toxic and dangerous relationship.

Predicting the behavior of another person is very difficult, especially if the person has promised not to become abusive again. Often it is our hope that things will get better that makes the assessment of risk even more difficult. There are several factors in assessing dangerousness.

These factors suggest a greater risk of continued and/or severe violence. If you can see any of these in your abuser, seriously consider and understand that the abuse will not go away, that it may very well get worst, and that you will never be able to control the situation well enough to ensure your own protection. If you see the first risk factor AND any of the others, then you should know the risk's that you can be severely injured or killed increases greatly.

Does your partner has a prior history of domestic violence (that is, partner has been violent with you previously, or has been violent in other relationships this includes family members)

Partner is extremely possessive and jealous :

The person has “possessive beliefs” – that is, strong feelings of ownership about their victim – the risk of fatality doubles. An “insanely jealous” partner may be extremely dangerous – especially if he/she comes to believe that you are not “faithful” or that you are intending to leave.

Partner threatens to kill you or others in your life if you ever leave the relationship:
This is the third most powerful predictor of fatality. While not everyone who threatens to kill their partners follows through with the threat, most of those who do kill have threatened to do so. Take any and all threats seriously. This is not a game. I do not care if the person said it while they were drunk or high-it still counts as a serious threat.

Partner believes you his wife or girlfriend has betrayed him (or her).If the person abusing you views you as having rejected him or her in preference for another partner or for independence, you are at greater risk.

Partner knows you are attempting to leave.If you are in the process of leaving be very careful. The risk of leaving without a concrete safety plan in place increases your chances of remaining alive.This factor represents the dangerousness inherent among some individuals who have a longstanding pattern of criminal behavior. Watch out for partners who have a history of criminal charges against people (like battery, assault).

Be extremely careful when partners appear to have no conscience and no remorse for causing pain to others.If any of these factors are present, there is an increased risk of violence:· Social services has become involved in your family. Your partner believes that you have more status or power than he/she does.

Your partner has lost a job. The legal system is involved in your partner’s life.

You are pregnant or there has been a recent birth of a child.

Your partner has access to weapons.

You are preparing to leave.

Your children are about to be removed.

Your partner is actively seeking information regarding your location.What does this all mean? It means that all violent partners do not come in some neat package with a warning label attached to their shirt collar. It means that hunk of a man with deep gazing green eyes who makes your knees weak can be a dangerous partner in a relationship and breaking from that spell of lust/love is a difficult undertaking. Given that we can often under-estimate the level of danger to ourselves, it is time you take seriously the personal safety for you and your children. Go to the library and pick up a copy of Defending Our Lives or Moving Out Moving On and begin formulating a plan.

At the library find out if there are tapes on self defense that you can watch in a private room in the library.

Doing nothing will get you killed, and then Time's Up!

"The Killing Fields"

Domestic violence is not a pre-existing condition for which coverage may be denied by insurance companies- it's a crime. Insurance companies should not be able to discriminate against crime victims. Yet they have for years.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and have either been admitted by way of your personal physician to being a domestic violence victim, visited a hospital emergency room for treatment after being injured by an abuser and you live in Arkansas, DC, Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming, your insurance carrier will not cover treatment costs label you with a pre-existing condition that could extend to coverage for your home mortgage and life insurance policies.

In a year where funding for domestic violence programs for legal, childrens programs and shelter services have been cut or removed all together by states including the most devastating budget cuts in California the rise of injury and death to victims will continue because the very system they is suppose to serve and protect is now beyond repair. There is no one size fits all cure to stop this nationwide epidemic. Education and awareness has done little to assist a nation that often refuses to see domestic violence as a crime.

In the end the system is throwing their hands in the boxing ring with the abuser as he scores another victory on his victims, all because law enforcement and the judicial system are unable to enforce the very laws put in place to stop not only the violence but the senseless assassination of its' innocent and helpless victims.

"Morning Joe" Show Bitch Slaps Chris Brown

In case you have not heard the news singer and woman beater Chris Brown will appear for an entire hour on Larry King's show tomorrow night.

This morning on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show after a previewing a clip for tonights show with Brown saying "it's a blur, I don't remember the incident." I thought it interesting that Chris Brown was wearing a trust me blue sweater, shirt and matching blue bow tie. The MSNBC panel asked the question how is it "that Chris Brown received no jail time? Who is the Judge? And how can foootball player Michael Vick receive serious prison time for killing dogs and Brown receives no jail time" says host Joe Scarborough. All excellent questions. The answer is simple, Chris Brown is immune because what he does for a living provides a cushy lifestyle for hundreds of influential people who won't make a dime if Brown served jail time.

Tonight's interview on Larry King is really about the legal system selling victims beaten within an inch if their lives down a continued bloody river of no return all for the love of money.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's office in cutting a deal sends a clear message to victims: felony battery is not against the law, especially when the offender has deep green pockets or in this case likely several signed cases of autograph cd's and tickets for future concert events?

It looks like Wednesday CNN evening will host an hour of "Offender Television."

"Bloody Facts"

The recent appointment of Lynn Rosenthal as the "Czar" for domestic violence is rather disturbing to me as an advocate, author, violence expert and homicide survivor. What purpose does this newly created White
House post really serve regarding the lives of battered women and their children?

So far this position appears to be nothing more than Ms. Rosenthal talking phone calls from legal advocates and survivors that have enough cell phone minutes to vent their anger and frustration in a sixty minute phone conversation only to be informed that their one-on -one discussion will be relayed to Vice-President Biden, the champion of Senate hearings and funding through the years for services and programs across the country.

Perhaps Ms. Rosenthal could use her rather large monthly expense account to fly around to the survivors of murder victims and their families such as Suzan Annette Sowlers-Fuller a former resident of Bakersfield, California. I say former because she was murdered. Ms. Rosenthal could begin her field trip by going to the court house and reading the transcripts on the case. From there she could arrange to meet with the Prosecutor in the case and review those documents, including the order of protection and the ridiculous bond amounts set in this case. Afterwards, I suggest she personally visit the home where both Suzan Annette and her mother Sharon were murdered by Robert Fuller on August 8, 2009.

Finally, Lynn Rosenthal should meet with Suzan's two daughters, ages 8 and 5, perhaps at their favorite ice cream shop to delicately discuss firsthand accounts of their young lives through the day of the murders. When speaking to these children, who are unable to sit in a booth and have their feet touch the floor, she should look them each in their eyes and explain why the system failed their Mommy.

This is not easy to do from behind a White House desk (you have to leave it once in a while).  Lynn Rosenthal must head into the battlefield. I can certainly donate a video camera if their is no budget in the WhiteHouse to record testimony for these tragedies. There is nothing like the testimony of a child, who watched as the bullets hit their mother, then grandmother's bodies. Or copies of the actual crime scene photos and morgue reports, to boil ones blood into taking action.

Effective action is what I have been doing for over 20 years with results that save lives, perhaps Ms. Rosenthal could pass that on the next time she meets with Vice-President Biden. I apologize if I sound sarcastic, I am far too busy with those victims I am desperately trying to keep alive so I don't have to inform a family their loved one is dead or tell a child "mommy is in heaven," because the system ignored them.

The Susan Murphy Milano Show- Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 3:00 PM Central Time

Two little girls ages 5 and 8 have literally had their lives turned upside down in the last 87 hours since their mother Suzan Annette Sowlers-Fuller and Grandmother Sharon Sue Cannon were killed, before their eyes.

The very system that was supposed to protect their mother and grandmother likely aided in their murders when they failed to upgrade the case and properly charge the estranged husband.

In those 87 hours the girls have lost their in what I refer to as their "country." A place where they each learned to ride their first horse. Where the girls learned how to roller skate down the drive-way, they each played their first game of hopscotch. At night their mom would read them a bedtime story, they would say their prayers and then Suzan or Annette as she liked to be called would kiss her daughters goodnight.

In a matter of moments, gone. They can never return, because, their warm safe world, has vanished. Since Saturday they have been whisked from strange beds, to people with badges to interviews with forensic investigators, appearances in court and questions from strangers who are unable to tell the girls why their mommy is dead.

The order of protection is a document to track the abuse, nothing more. Leading experts are commenting that these cases do not often end in murder when a victim obtains a court order. Well perhaps those experts need to examine these cases a bit closer. Many women do not obtain a court order for fear of being killed. A woman for numerous reasons decides on various factors usually not disclosed to others that prevents her from seeking assistance. It is more of a damn if you do and damn if you do not decision on the part of each victim.

On The Susan Murphy Milano show, we will discuss the various obstacles highlighting this tragedy in hopes that those listening will learn what direction they need to take when faced with imminent danger. This is also a case of "maternal deprivation abuse" that ended in murder. Simply, the father and killer hijacked the children from their mother. We will be joined on the show by Claudine Dombrowski a leading expert in the area of mothers without custody. And a we will be joined by a close relative and friend who was in daily contact with both women who died.

Date : 8/12/2009

Time: 4:00 PM EST 3:00 PM CST 1:00 PM PST

Call-in Number: (347) 326-9337

Show Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanmurphymilano

If you miss the show, please remember you can listen by turning up the volume on your computer and the show will automatically play until our next show on August 19, 2009 when our special guest will be divorce attorney Jennifer Weiss. And she will take your questions live, during the show.

Plan "B"

Suzan Annette Sowders-Fuller stood on her ranch in Bakersfield, California, crossed her arms and shook her head in disbelief, on Monday August, 3, 2009 when her estranged husband bonded (for the second time) out of jail paying a measly $750 to be back out on the street only to continue terrorizing his wife and kids. As of Monday last week there were 8 police reports for breaking a court order of protection; slicing tires, breaking and entering; verbal threats of death over the phone; taking a container of diesel fuel and dousing the house. The kicker, on Wednesday August 5, 2009, Robert Fuller was visiting as scheduled by the courts with the couple's 2 daughter's ages 8 and 5.

Robert Dale Fuller was allowed to continue supervised visitation with his children. Why wasn't he behind bars? Where was the district attorney? Why wasn't he charged with several felonies?

Could it be that no one took Suzan's cries for help seriously because she was going through a divorce? We will never know.

On Saturday August 8, 2009 at 2:25 a.m. a frantic call was placed to the police by the 8 year-old child, "please she screamed, help us, help us, my mommy, my grandma have been shot, hurry, hurry someone please hurry."

In front of both children Robert Fuller shot to death Suzan and her mother Sharon Cannon.

A spokesperson from the Sheriff's Department told the local news reporter they responded to a "domestic dispute." What no one knew at the time and I learned this morning, was the system refused to do its' job on many levels in this case.

At the conclusion of the article it reads "Sheriff urged anyone experiencing domestic violence or abuse to seek professional help."

The system appears to serve as nothore more then a light post for your street address as they approach the crime scene, respondong only after someone has been murdered by their violent husband or boyfriend. It is obvious for anyone experiencing violence in a relationship, or going through a nasty divorce, plan "B" is a survival requirement or they may not survive to see a new sunrise.

Part 2 of this post is tomorrow.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Susan Murphy Milano show on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 3:00PM central time as we talk about this case with a family member and Claudia Dombrokski from Mothers Without Custody, including what women must arm themselves with to survive the abuse. The question of the day is: Are you interested in planning for a funeral or a new life?