Man allegedly stabs wife hours after release on own recognizance

[demopublican]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,3475661.story

Daren Ruffin had only been home from jail for about a week before he found himself in custody again.

The charge was the same: second-degree assault, after his wife told police Ruffin beat her. But instead of spending a month in jail in lieu of bail as he had before, Ruffin was released the next day on his own recognizance and ordered to stay away from his wife, Melissa Davis.

Hours later, he was charged with first-degree murder. Police found Davis stabbed to death in the couple's apartment last Friday and say Ruffin has confessed to the crime. He had been arrested six times in as many months on charges that he hurt his wife, and in one case was cleared when Davis refused to testify against him.

Disgusting.

[LadyHollman]

Lt. Rhonda McCoy, who runs the intimate partner and elderly abuse unit for Baltimore police, said authorities often find their options limited as they seek to stop a cycle of domestic violence.
"There's not much the system could do," she said. McCoy noted that Davis had previously refused to testify against her husband, resulting in a not-guilty verdict in the prior assault case. There are some victims who just don't want to see their significant others charged, McCoy said, even when police intervene.

That was just a plain DUMB statement.

[demopublican]

That was just a plain DUMB statement.

I have no experience with this. What are the police and DA's options in those situations?

[CIB]

Looks like Lady Hollman is in denial.

According to Erin Prizzy, someone who would know, some women seek out high conflict relationships.

This woman apparently repeatedly covered for her abuser. Whether this was some form of Stockholm Syndrome or she got off on the abuse (or at least the excitement generated by the abuse) we'll never know.

But yeah, you really can't make laws and policies concerning domestic violence any more draconian than they already are, so the legal systems hands were tied in this case.

[Jeebus]

Ruffin had been arrested six times in as many months — four times in Massachusetts and twice in Maryland — on charges that he hurt his wife. In the first Maryland case, Ruffin was cleared when Davis refused to testify against him.

Ruffin was released the next day on his own recognizance and ordered to stay away from his wife, Melissa Davis.

Hours later, he was charged with first-degree murder. Police found Davis stabbed to death in the couple's apartment last Friday and say Ruffin confessed to the crime.

But....but....the police and courts ORDERED him to stay away!

You mean.....he didn't obey the law?

Well...we need to pass.....another law that makes it a crime not to follow the existing law!

Or a law that outlaws stupidity in women who continue to get beaten (6 times in 2 different states!) and continue to go back to the beater.

[CIB]

But....but....the police and courts ORDERED him to stay away!

You mean.....he didn't obey the law?

Well...we need to pass.....another law that makes it a crime not to follow the existing law!

Or a law that outlaws stupidity in women who continue to get beaten (6 times in 2 different states!) and continue to go back to the beater.

It's not like the legal system didn't do anything to protect her, either. I'm not sure what Massachusetts did, but his *** sat in jail for a month here in our fair state. She could have left and if she didn't have $ for her own pad or a friend or relative to stay with, there's plenty of women's shelters available. For more security, if she didn't want to hide, she could have purchased a gun, brought a dog, or even got separated and found a boyfriend.

From the limited information we have, it does appear she wanted to be in his presence.

[Jeebus]

While we're at at, we should pass an "assault knife" control law or perhaps ban the possession of knives from those accused of domestic violence.

Laws work, we need to make them stronger so that criminals realize they need to obey them!

Because that law would have stopped this killing -- I'm certain that if he didn't have easy access to a knife he wouldn't have strangled her, or bashed her head in, or etc etc.

[ybnormal]

That was just a plain DUMB statement.

Why is that? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Now THIS is a case people should be "outraged" about instead of defending the death of a heroin dealer. Another rediculous story.

[bmore_ken]

Another rediculous story.

It's "ridiculous". Your Walmart computer doesn't have spell check?

[octoburn]

This case is a perfect example of why all threats of violence, even those where the excuse~makers say things like ~ "He wouldn't have given his name if his threat was really serious" should be taken seriously. It's also why people should be careful about who has access to their personal information with some of these online petitions. It would be good to find out if anyone involved has any record of domestic violence themselves.

[bmore_ken]

Bernstein will fix it

[ybnormal]

It's "ridiculous". Your Walmart computer doesn't have spell check?

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!! That all you got googleboy? BWAHAHAHA! Putz. Look that up.

You're still trolling all day long on here on the taxpayers' dime for all to see. That's ballsy.

[demopublican]

Bernstein will fix it

Until his spokespeople are out there publically taunting and insulting murder victim's families I will consider it an improvement.

[bmore_ken]

Until his spokespeople are out there publically taunting and insulting murder victim's families I will consider it an improvement.

I'm sure that gives the woman's famly comfort

[demopublican]

I'm sure that gives the woman's famly comfort

The decision to release this POS was a poor decision. But ultimately the woman contributed the most to her own demise by refusing to testify against this violent animal.
I strongly suspect that family members were aware of the violent and dysfunctional relationship. I am sure they are upset (and rightly so) at the system but deep down I suspect that they are blaming themselves as well.
If you suspect that someone you know is in a dangerous relationship: speak out.

[foxhound]

I have no experience with this. What are the police and DA's options in those situations?

I believe that as a technical/legal matter, the wife's wishes don't make a difference in charging or prosecuting her husband. The crime (all crimes) are against the government, not against the wife. That's why criminal (but not civil) cases are entitled "State v. So-and-So" not "Joe Blow v. So-and-So."

As a practical matter, though, it's going to be tough to get a conviction when your lone eyewitness has to be dragged onto the stand, and then refuses to testify. And the prosecutor probably also has to consider the real possibility that the reluctant wife would get on the stand and outright lie (commit perjury.)

[ybnormal]

It's "ridiculous". Your Walmart computer doesn't have spell check?

It does, just like your federal government-owned computer that you use all day, every day, on here on government time. You do know that the government has software in place that tracks your every keystroke, right googleboy?

[bmore_ken]

Silly senile miserable old man

[LadyHollman]

Why is that? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Now THIS is a case people should be "outraged" about instead of defending the death of a heroin dealer. Another rediculous story.

Well, the so-called Lt. should know by now (her being in charge of a Domestic Violence unit and all) that its a matter of hopelessness and a -1000 level self-esteem. The abused is afraid to the point of terror ... and s/he knows they are on their own.

You probably took a Psychology course. Remember the dog experiment [they like to torture dogs for some reason] where they locked it in a room and applied shocks to the floor over a long period of time? Then one day they left he door open and applied the floor shocks? The dog just stayed there in the room even though it could have left? Its like that.

Some lady went and got a Protective Order, yes? That paper gonna keep a psycho away? Noooooope! She's dead too. Remember a crazy abuser is most likely a narcissist.

Also bear in mind, the court will order all firearms to be removed from a location in most DV situations ... so you got nothing if the abuser returns.

Anyhow, its DUMB to say what was said because its a matter of much more. Its not like the abusive one doesn't know where the victim lives, family, friends, fave grocery store, etc. Plus the punishments for DV are as worthless as those for DWI.

[LadyHollman]

Looks like Lady Hollman is in denial.

According to Erin Prizzy, someone who would know, some women seek out high conflict relationships.

This woman apparently repeatedly covered for her abuser. Whether this was some form of Stockholm Syndrome or she got off on the abuse (or at least the excitement generated by the abuse) we'll never know.

But yeah, you really can't make laws and policies concerning domestic violence any more draconian than they already are, so the legal systems hands were tied in this case.

Who is Erin Prizzy? And how many calls for service concerning DV has she handled as a primary Officer?