Friday, August 27, 2010

DV Murder in Warner Robbins

Via Macon.com, Warner Robbins police report that a man who killed his wife Monday had planned a murder-suicide.

Maria Garcia, 38, was found dead in the doorway of her home at 102 Murray Place by neighbors about 7:35 a.m. Monday, according to police and neighbors who found the body. She had been shot twice, according to the Houston County coroner.

Her estranged husband, Jose Garcia, 44, who was stabbed twice, was found unconscious about 7:40 a.m. in the parking lot at Northlake Apartments at 310 Northlake Dive where he lived, police said. He remained hospitalized Thursday.

Tabitha Pugh, public information officer for Warner Robins police, said Thursday that a warrant has been signed for Jose Garcia’s arrest on the charge of felony murder. The warrant is not expected to be served until he is released from The Medical Center of Central Georgia, she said.

Jose Garcia’s stab wounds were self-inflicted with a large knife, Pugh said. Police believe that Jose Garcia went to the home with plans to kill Maria Garcia and then kill himself in what was to be a murder-suicide, Pugh said.

We can't say enough that if a batterer is willing to kill himself, it makes him much more dangerous to those around him. Many women hear their partners make threats of suicide if they leave and think that they will feel responsible if he harms himself. What they don't hear is the implicit threat that a man willing to take his own life does not plan to suffer the consequences for any of the actions he takes before he dies. Those men are extremely dangerous and many domestic violence homicides are, indeed, murder-suicides. If your partner has a history of violence and is threatening suicide, there are many ways that you can help him find help without remaining in a relationship in which your life is in danger, too. Please call your local domestic violence program before it is too late.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Garcia family, especially the children.

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