photo © 2009 Alan Cleaver | more info (via: Wylio)

Here is an interesting article on the Stacey Burns murder, which talks about her husband’s behavior.  Ed Burns apparently had Stacey quite afraid of him–at one point threatening to cut off “body parts”.  Another time he woke her at 4 a.m., was standing over her and told her “death or divorce”.  Ed was not happy about hearing his wife wanted to separate from him.  Witnesses also told the court, when Stacy filed for an emergency restraining order, that Ed burned her clothes and cosmetics.

Stacey got a restraining order against Ed in 2007 for a year, and a year later, she got it renewed by a judge for a 5 year period, but during that time, she softened again, and let Ed back into her life for her children’s sake.  And it didn’t take long for Ed to petition to the court to remove the restraining order.  That was late in 2008 and by Mother’s Day she was found murdered. 

Stacey had told the court about Ed, “I feel afraid of what Ed would do if the restraining order was lifted. I am fearful of Ed coming into my house while myself and my five children are there.”

Past behavior, as Dr. Phil says, is often a good predictor of future behavior.