She was no doubt a victim of domestic violence, but that does not release her from the responsibility of protecting her children. She should have taken them and gone straight to the police. They would have put them into protective custody and he could never have got to them again. They both deserve to rot in Hell.
We have not seen nor heard from...or know anyone else who has, either...a good friend & her children in 25 years. Even the children's God Parents have had no contact.
Her hubby decided to start sexually abusing a daughter, and it was into witness protection for them immediately. He was "convicted" and put in a state hospital for awhile, but never went to prison.