Dad murders mom, leaving 12-year-old son to find the bodies (Lawrenceville, Georgia)

Typical abuser daddy. The wife of CHARLES HALL was divorcing him (wonder why she'd want to do that...?), and Daddy just couldn't stand not being in control. So he slit her throat, and then fatally shot himself. Oh, and for that final insult: he leaves the bodies to be found by their 12-year-old son. What a sweetheart....

More must be done to help women trying to leave abusive relationships and marriages. And I'm not talking about hand-holding services like counseling or job training. I'm talking about locking up batterers. Or arming moms, and letting them defend themselves and their kids if the police can't be bothered. Which, unfortunately, seems to be the case in many localities.

http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/home/headlines/Police_Wifes_throat_slit_in_killing_104429969.html

Updated: 11:47 AM Oct 6, 2010

Police: Wife’s throat slit in killing

LAWRENCEVILLE — Autopsies have determined a Lawrenceville man slit his wife’s throat before fatally shooting himself Tuesday morning, police said. Gwinnett police on Wednesday identified the couple, who were in the midst of a divorce, as Charles Hall, 57, and Tita Hall, 50.

Posted: 11:12 AM Oct 6, 2010
Reporter: By Josh Green, Staff Writer
Email Address: josh.green@gwinnettdailypost.com

LAWRENCEVILLE — Autopsies have determined a Lawrenceville man slit his wife’s throat before fatally shooting himself Tuesday morning, police said.

Gwinnett police on Wednesday identified the couple, who were in the midst of a divorce, as Charles Hall, 57, and Tita Hall, 50.

The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Tita Hall’s death a murder. Her husband also cut himself but died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Edwin Ritter.

Police said the couple were heard arguing into the early morning at a home on Carriage Way near Lawrenceville.

The couple’s 12-year-old son found his father about 7:30 a.m. and ran to a neighbor’s home, police said.

The couple lived with their two children — the boy and a 9-year-old daughter. Neither child was harmed.

Ritter said two apparent weapons — a knife and gun — were recovered at the scene.

The children were released to the custody of a family member, police said.