Police: Dad sent mom photos of murdered son; boys were living with HIM pending custody hearing (Graham, Texas)

Sick bastard is an understatement.

This is how the system works now, folks. Despite the fact that dad GABRIEL ARMANDARIZ was abusive to the mother of his two sons, he had physical custody. How? Why? Simply by imposing his will on the mother? Or was he awarded temporary or permanent custody by the courts? If so, what judge was behind this travesty?

At any rate, since mothers are not presumed to have automatic custodial rights to the children they gave birth to, this mother was having to go to court to establish custody.

Too late. Daddy had already "allegedly" murdered them--and sent photos of the dead bodies to Mom.

We posted intially on this case last spring. But it was sent again to me recently.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8237820/mother-sent-photos-of-dead-children-police

Mother sent photos of dead children: police
11:00 AEST Sat Apr 16 20111
76 days 22 hours 12 minutes ago
By ninemsn staff

A man allegedly killed his two sons and sent photos of their bodies to their mother, including a picture of a hanged toddler, Texas police claim.

Gabriel Armandariz was charged with murder after officers found the bodies of his sons, two-year-old Gatlin and six-month-old Luke, in Graham, Texas, on Thursday.

The 28-year-old had been due in court next Monday for a custody hearing with his ex-girlfriend Lauren Smith, 28, ABC News reports.

Ms Smith was allegedly living with her family while her boys lived with their father.

Friends said Mr Armandariz started sending threatening text messages to Ms Smith at the start of the week.

But on Wednesday his messages included some shocking photos.

Mr Armandariz allegedly sent one photo showing the two young boys lying on a bed with him along with the message, "We love u [sic}, goodbye".

Not long after he allegedly sent another photo to Ms Smith showing one of her sons hanging dead.

Not believing the image was real, Ms Smith took the photo to her boss.

"She [Ms Smith] showed me a picture of her son hanging," said Douglas Ames, the owner of Chuck Wagon restaurant.

"Neither of us believed it was real. You can't imagine that to be real."

Mr Ames said Ms Smith called Mr Armandariz who kept saying "I can't believe you're making me do this".

They then heard what they believed sounded like Mr Armandariz hanging himself before the phone went dead.

But Armandariz called back five minutes later, Mr Ames said.

Ms Smith became terrified for the safety of her children and the pair called police.

Officers have not commented on how the boys died.

Investigators began searching for Mr Armandariz and the boys at 6.30pm on Wednesday, but did not find them until 10 hours later.

The boys were found at Mr Armandariz's home but police would not reveal the details of their search.

AP reported the children's bodies were found under the house.

ABC reported Mr Armandariz called police to hand himself in.

Ms Smith's brother-in-law said she had been living with him for several months to escape her "abusive relationship" with Mr Armandariz.

But he claimed Mr Armandariz had never been violent or abusive towards their children.