Replies

She wasn't home to defend the babies...did you read the article? It clearly says she was gone, with a friend, for about an hour. Come home to find him dead.
Authorities said that after police were called to the Branscum home before 2 a.m., officers saw Amanda Branscum lying in the road uninjured; the father and children were found dead inside the house.

That's the last line in the article.
I wonder why you assume that I didn't read the article. What article are YOU reading? Did she faint? She fought with him and then just went visiting with a girlfriend? Do you KNOW how strange that sounds? After a mean, nasty, vicious fight with spouse, she visits a girlfriend in the middle of the night? How many MATURE married women visit a girlfriend in the middle of the night after a fight? If they do, instead of going HOME, then they are way too young to be married. One doesn't talk to one's GIRLFRIEND at that age. One goes home to one's children, to one's family and calms down.

I am not excusing him in any way, but if you know ANYTHING about human nature and marriages, you KNOW that these things are NEVER "out of the blue" or all the fault of one spouse. It always takes two to fight. One is often the button pusher who exercises control by pushing buttons s/he KNOWS will set the other off.

Button pushers then can claim that "I didn't know s/he would go THIS far. It's not MY fault."
Button pushers often continue to enable the problem because they don't have the brains, guts or whatever to solve the obvious problems with counseling, therapy, divorce, whatever. THEY stay in a rotten marriage, damage the children, continue down the path of disaster, all the while enabling, pushing buttons and claiming the high moral road because THEY merely provoked and enabled.

Never their fault. Baloney.

It sounds to me as if you have been the "victim" of a button pusher. It also appears you play the "victim" role very well.

Trimble told police she left with a friend after they got home and came back about an hour later to find her husband fatally shot. Her friend called police who found Trimble lying in the street, hysterical but not physically hurt

From the article, she was hysterical. Most anyone finding their spouse dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound would be hysterical. Another poster postulated that she probably made it as far as the street before being "overcome by hysteria".

One doesn't talk to one's GIRLFRIEND at that age

They don't? I know of several people who still talk to their "girlfriends" well into their 60's. You sure take liberties with what you deem to be appropriate behavior. Not everyone lives with the same set of *rules* you have imposed upon yourself

We can sit here and cast blame all we want, but we weren't there. We don't know what caused her to go with a friend and leave the children with *their father*. Maybe she chose to go away to give him time to calm down. She was only gone an hour. Maybe he was in the habit of raising his hand to her...and she left to keep that from happening. (notice the word Maybe)

As for your "button pusher" scenario...the one who's buttons are being pushed always has the option of ending the relationship and asking for custody. There is never a good excuse for taking the lives of young innocents like he did.

You have no idea if you are right...and your *Never their fault. Baloney.* comment reaks of your own issues.

I have read all of these statements and for U people that are putting Amanda down are incredible ignorant! That woman no matter what did not deserve this to happen! Her husband regardeless of the circumstance took the lives of their children. My parents live in Gustine and my brother was Jacob's best friend!! You have no right to bagger Amanda. Saying she should have known or that she should have seen this coming. U Morons that are not reading everything are not getting the story. Her husband and her had an arguement she then decided to call a gfriend to pick her up so they can both get control of themselves. She did not leave her kids. She was not injured because she was not there when this happened she was with her gfriend. She returned home to find her husband dead in the kitchen. She then ran out of the house hysterically trying to get some help and she fainted on the floor. UNINJURED BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT THERE!!!!!!!!! I think we should be grieving the death of these 4 innocent children not trying to play detective and start pointing fingers at she should have done this or that. You do not know what you would do in that situation. I think this pathetic and the only reason I am posting this is because my brother lost his best friend and Amanda was a wonderful mother that did everything in her power for those kids!! U don't know anything about her.......