Dad murders mom, leaving 16-year-old son; killer had ignored restraining order (Lino Lakes, Minnesota)

Like the guy from the district attorney's office says, "And people always wonder why victims don't leave." This woman, the mother of a 16-year-old, took out a restraining order, sought help and support from a battered women's group, all the stuff they tell you to do. And she still got shot to death by her abusive husband.

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/Domestic_Violence_Led_to_Murder_Suicide_october_2_2009

Murder-Suicide in North Metro
Lino Lakes man kills wife, then himself
Published : Friday, 02 Oct 2009, 9:17 PM CDT

Maury Glover
LINO LAKES, MN - A long history of domestic violence ended as a murder suicide in Lino Lakes on Thursday.

Pam Taschuk's co-workers at Blue Sky Charter School say she was a larger than life character. But the woman who tried to help teenagers at the charter school stay in school couldn't get out of her own abusive relationship even though she had a restraining order against her husband, Allen.

Police say Allen dropped off their 16-year-old son at a nearby convenience store Thursday night. Then drove to the home he wasn't supposed to go near and shot his wife before calling 911 to report the shooting. Then shot himself.

Pam had just gotten home from a battered women's support group and earlier in the day met with a prosecutor for Anoka County.

"Towards the end, Pam said she's not going back to the defendent. She's done. She wants out of the relationship. She's tried to leave before. And said people always wonder why victim's don't leave," Paul Young of the Anoka Co. Attorney's office.

Pam got the protection order against Allen just three weeks ago.

Carol Arthur with the Domestic Abuse Project said the most dangerous time for any battered woman is when she tries to leave her abuser.

Arthur worries that since Taschuk was killed, even though she had an order of protection against her husband other battered women will believe that court orders don't work.

"Yes they can be effective, if you have someone who respects the law and isn't at this place where they are ready to die versus having that person leave them," said Arthur.

Taschuk's co-workers said they knew she was getting a divorce but they had no idea she had become a victim of domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is having trouble getting out of an abusive relationship... Help is out there.

Call the domestic violence crisis hot-line at 1-866-223-1111 or click onto: domesticabuseproject.org