During the early part of February 2019, a female college student at Ohio State University should have had the time of her life. Instead, she had been kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend (who she has a child with) and killed in a deadly confrontation when the police caught up with them. Both the suspect (ex-boyfriend) and his female kidnap victim were killed during the deadly encounter with law enforcement. What went wrong that led to the female’s death? Was it the system that failed her? Were the processes in place sufficient to stop the threat her ex-boyfriend posed? Did she or others recognize the significant peril she was in and what (within reason) could have been done to save her life?
The abduction occurred on a campus of the Ohio State University where the suspect (he ex-boyfriend) used a firearm to force her into a vehicle and leave the area. A witness to the abduction contacted law enforcement and reported the crime. A Kentucky state trooper spotted the suspect vehicle and ultimately stopped them. As the trooper approached the vehicle, shots were fired from inside the vehicle.
The trooper returned fire and as a result, now two people (the male ex-boyfriend suspect and his female captive) are now deceased. At the time of this writing, it is unknown whether the suspect was shooting at his female captive, at the Kentucky State Trooper or in an attempt to take his own life (in a murder suicide fashion). It is also unknown if the rounds fired from law enforcement struck only the suspect, or if their rounds struck the female captive. In time, the answers to those questions will be answered. However, the facts remain that the suspect (ex-boyfriend) stalked the mother of his child, abducted her and through the course of his criminal conduct – the life of his ex-girlfriend was tragically taken. The female had previously filed and was granted an order of protection against her ex-boyfriend and there was at least one other case of domestic violence in their relationship – enough so that she felt she needed and was granted an order of protection.
This case and cases like this have been played out all over our nation. Cases where one person in a domestic relationship are experiencing significant problems and resorts to abduction and/or murder as a method to address their domestic issues.
This is a classic case of a Simple Obsessional Stalking that results in the loss of the victim’s life. In this type of a stalking, there is a prior relationship between two people. When the relationship is about to or does end, one party decides they will engage in a course of conduct where they stalk the other person. The course of conduct is usually an activity that frightens, threatens or harasses the other person. This course of conduct can be pattern of behavior that can occur over days, weeks, months or even years.
Some cases have successful intervention where the suspect’s criminal behavior is stopped, and still other cases have occurred with the most tragic outcomes. It has been my experience that if a criminal’s actions are thwarted it may be from any number of reasons. If the person committing the criminal offense is “truly” afraid of the potential consequences of their crimes and may end up in jail/prison, they may be motivated to stop their behavior. But, in the case where a suspect does not care about their own consequences, their actions and behaviors could lead them to commit some of the worst crimes available to them. There have been past stalking cases where the suspect abducts, commits sexual attacks on their victim and sometimes resulted in the murder of the victim, or a murder suicide situation where both the victim and suspect lose their lives.
If the stalker type is the Simple Obsessional, and a temporary restraining/protection order is granted against the suspect, this usually involves a male suspect and a female victim. However, there are occasions where this is in reverse and the female is the suspect and the male is the victim.
Any person who files and is granted an order of protection is never 100% in the clear and safe from the person they are seeking protection from. You will never know when or what exactly may be the tipping point where the suspect loses all inhibitions and makes the decision to act on their violent impulses. It is for that reason, that each person (victim) in that situation have a resolve and know what they should or should not do if that person violates the protection order, appears and wants to either abduct or cause bodily harm to the victim.
To answer the question, how bad can it get? Well, history has shown us, repeatedly that violent suspects can and will resort to any and all violent crimes to further their own selfish interests. You must always and everywhere, be ready. Be ready to defend yourself and fight for your life with every fiber of your being. Remember, the police cannot be present to save you and sometimes, you must save yourself.
If you have not already, seek proficiency in self-defense. Obtain and carry a concealed weapon. Carry the weapon everywhere you can legally take the weapon that will not cause you to be arrested. If the suspect violates the TRO/TPO (Temporary Restraining or Protection Order) and you fear for your safety, never agree to go or be forced to go anywhere against your will with the suspect! The suspect’s intentions are not to take you to a well populated place for safe conversation. Instead, the suspect is likely to place you and potentially others in serious risk of losing you life and others who they may encounter. Therefore, if the suspect is attempting by force to abduct you or to commit a violent crime against you, you must actively resist and use the force required to save your life, by whatever means necessary!
