Maybe the traumatic event was a manic meltdown.
This article http://popularmilitary.com/exclusive-owner-dog-slain-veteran-soldier-speaks-really-happened/ says she was diagnosed with PTSD,narcissistic personality disorder, bipolar disorder and other ailments following her return from Korea.
And she was kicked out of college for a “domestic dispute” before joining the military. Her soon to be ex has known her since grade school and described her as “goth-emo” in high school.
So I’m gonna go out on a sturdy limb here and guess that she doesn’t play well with others, has trouble adapting to new social milieus and is generally a high strung, high maintenance female given to heavy drinking and tantrums.
What’s really scary is the idea of this messed up woman having children, they would not be safe in her care.