Mother had filed restraining order against father arrested in death of 2-year-old daughter; had feared for children's safety (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Of course, the explanation is not clear here as to whether Mom somehow 'let" this father have access, or whether it was court-ordered. Notice that he had made death threats against her before, and had assaulted her. And that she did manage to get a restraining order.

This account differs from the previous post, in that a "girlfriend" was identified in that account as somebody different from the mother. Will search for additional clarification.

Dad is identified as DESHAWN RAMON THREATS.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/08/court_documents_show_turmoil_i.html

Court documents show turmoil in Grand Rapids home where 2-year-old died

By John Tunison on August 14, 2013 at 5:59 PM, updated August 14, 2013 at 11:01 PM

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The mother of a 2-year-old who died today at a Northwest Side home had a restraining order against the child's father and recently told court authorities she was "scared he might start hurting our children."

Police are simply calling the death of the 2-year-old girl suspicious.

Detectives have sought a warrant for second-degree child abuse against the father. In court records, he is identified as Deshawn Ramon Threats, 21.

Police say additional charges could be filed following an autopsy scheduled for Thursday.

Officers and emergency personnel were called shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14 to a four-apartment house on Fourth Street NW, west of Seward Avenue, on a report of a child having trouble breathing.

When police arrived, however, the child was dead. She has been identified as Zaeyana Janae Driggs-Threats.

Grand Rapids police Detective Kristen Rogers declined to discuss the child's injuries.

The father and mother were both home when officers got to the house, police said. This morning, at the scene, Threats was arrested on an outstanding warrant for a child support violation.

Court documents point to ongoing domestic turmoil between the mother and Threats.

The mother had filed two personal protection orders against Threats since September, the last in June.

The June order -- keeping Threats away from the mother -- does not expire until December.

In the document, she described her relationship with Threats as "off and on for about 2-1/2 years" and noted that police had been called twice for domestic violence complaints between the two.

She complained that he made death threats against her, but also slapped and pushed her.

"I'm scared of him and scared he will end up killing me or that he might start hurting our children," she wrote in a petition for the protection order.

In the petition, she alleged he grabbed a hammer and came at her with it, "like he was going to hit me in the face."

Court documents show the 2-year-old had a birthday on June 22.

The protection order filed in September expired in March, court records show.

In that document, the mother said Threats had been arrested "many times for domestic violence" and that "he can't control his temper."

She wrote that he was arrested for breaking her car window and again alleged that he abused her by slapping and choking. She also said: "I have a bald spot on the back of my head from (him) ripping my hair out. He threatens me, saying he's going to burn my car or set my house on fire."

Court records show Threats has a history of domestic violence charges and, in March 2012, pleaded guilty to attempted domestic violence third offense.

Felpe Diaz, a nearby neighbor of the Fourth Street NW home, said he knew another tenant of the property who told him the couple "would always be fighting."