14 DAY TRIAL // 45-year-old former Marine Radcliffe Haughton went on a killing spree in Wisconsin, killing three women and wounding four, before turning the gun on himself. Court records reveal wife Zina, one of the victims that suffered fatal injuries, was afraid that her husband would take her life.
A Milwaukee judge had granted the woman a four-year restraining order against Haughton. He had threatened her with a gun before. That night, the handgun accidentally discharged and missed her and her daughter, WKOW reports.
"Things have gotten so bad. We need to separate," she stated at the hearing.
Lately, the man was convinced she was cheating on him. He even tried cross examining her in court, acting as his own attorney, to try to confirm his suspicions.
"For 20 years, we've fought. He's hit me. We've fought. But since May 29, the evening that he thinks I cheated on him, just the threats have gotten so bad, and like I said, I don't want to die," Zina said, just one day before the shooting.
Police in Brown Deer, Wisconsin had responded several times to domestic abuse related 911 calls from the Haughtons.
"Since 2001, the Brown Deer Police Department has responded to calls for service regarding the Haughtons, ranging from animal complaints to domestic violence related cases," a spokesman stated.
In October, an enraged and jealous Haughton had slashed Zina's tires. When she called the police, he threatened her with acid.
“He threatened to throw acid in my face, burn me and my family with gas. His threats terrorize my every waking moment," the woman explained in court.
On Saturday, Radcliffe Haughton bought a .40-caliber handgun, one day after the judge had ordered him to surrender his fire arms. The next day he would become a mass murderer.