TexasCHLforum.com

Thank you for all of the responses. Here is what has transpired so far:

I'm not sure how long the husband has been abusive, but about a week and a half ago he threatened to kill her and the kids. He choked her until she was almost unconcious and locked her in the closet. Last weekend she tried to leave. He found her, threw her in the car and told her "you know whats going to happen to you when we get home". She escaped and contacted my aunt who is her close friend.

My uncle, the pastor of the church, contacted him and was able to talk him into giving her the kids while he went to work. She got the kids and went into hiding with my aunt. She and the kids were then moved to another persons house where she remains now.

Tuesday she went to court with an attorney from the church to get a protective/restraining? order against him. She tried to meet with him at the church and as expected it didn't go well (he tried to take the children and the staff had to intervene).

He was supposed to have been served the order and also an eviction notice last Thursday, but now I'm hearing that they can't get him served. This past Sunday we hired a uniformed officer for security, and about 6 men in the church, including myself, watched over the mother and children.

Sunday I told my aunt I was worried about her safety as he may seek revenge on her seeing this as her fault for interfering. She almost broke down in tears as everyone had seemingly forgotton about her safety once the family left her house. I asked her if she needed a gun and she said, "yes, I was going to ask you for one".

We met at the range last night as it had been 10 years since she had been shooting. She did a great job and remembered how much she liked shooting (believe it or not she shot a lot in CA of all places!).

The wife/mother told my Uncle that they did not own a gun, so I'm not sure what her feelings are on the subject, and I really haven't had the one on one contact with her to discuss the subject.

I've been talking about security at the church for several years now, with no one taking me too seriously. They've mostly been worried about car breakins and minor crimes. I used this opportunity to tell the rest of the board that this is what scares me the most. If you look back at the majority of recent church shootings, they were domestic situations.

If any of you met this guy, you would have never suspected it. He was very quiet and soft spoken. A very nice and friendly guy, it appeared. No matter where you work, worship or play, there may be situations brewing that you will have no clue about, until they are staring you in the face. These are the situations we have to be prepared for.

Thanks tx. You are a wealth of information for us. I believe a protection order is what was given.

gigag04 wrote:sounds like he needs a visit from GOBA but its none of my business.

Yes, I agree. He has 4 adorable small children. Possibly the best behaved children I've ever seen. And to think of what they've seen or been on the receiving end of makes my blood boil.

It is a battered woman. She is being hidden right now by a member of our church. We thought he had been served last week, but we are finding out now that he hasn't.

Sorry this is a bit off topic, but I thought one of the officers or attorneys on the board could answer this for me....

If a judge has issued a restraining/protection (proper term?) against someone, but the person has not been served because that person is avoiding the server, is the order still in effect and enforceable by LEO's?