Divorce Tensions Turn Tragic for Florida Family

Everyone knows that divorce can be emotionally charged and stressful for everyone involved. Cases may be especially difficult if one spouse files for divorce while the other wishes to remain married. One recent Florida news story reminds us how sometimes tension in a divorce can become dangerous and lead to domestic violence and tragedy.

Violence in Port Orange

After 25 years of marriage, David and Cynthia Mohney were facing divorce and Cynthia and her attorney were preparing for mediation sessions, which are used to attempt to reach a settlement between divorcing spouses outside of court. Reports indicate that David Mohney was unhappy about the divorce and made numerous comments stating the couple would be back together and that the divorce must stop.

In mid-October, David woke up his sleeping wife and brought her to the kitchen of their home, where he showed her a gun and reportedly stated, “If you don’t come back to me and stop the divorce, I will kill our children.” Cynthia had no access to a phone, so she ran to a nearby neighbor’s home for help.

While she was gone, David shot all three of their children and then himself. Their 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son both died from their injuries, as did David. A 9-year-old daughter has been reported to be in a medically-induced coma yet in stable condition.

Courts Can Help Many Domestic Violence Victims

The Mohneys’ tragic situation reminds us all that even threats of violence from a spouse or partner against you or your children should always be taken seriously. You should not wait until it is too late to ask for help. Florida courts can issue injunctions of protection–commonly referred to as restraining orders–against the potentially violent family member to prohibit them from coming within a certain distance of you and can force them to move out of the family home.

While an injunction for protection cannot ever fully guarantee protection for you, such orders help numerous victims of domestic violence stay safe every year in Florida. You can obtain a temporary injunction or protection at any time of night and even on weekends or holidays. An attorney will know how to contact a judge during work hours or off-hours to help you.

How a Lawyer Can Help

If you have experienced or fear you or your children are in danger of domestic violence, you should contact the authorities as soon as possible. You should also contact Boca Raton family law attorney Alan R. Burton for assistance in obtaining the necessary court orders to protect your and your family from possible violence.

Even if you are not experiencing threats of domestic violence, an experienced family law attorney can help make the divorce process go as smooth as possible to try to keep tensions low whenever possible. He can also assist you with finding counseling resources that you may need to get you through the process. Divorce is never easy, but we can help, so please do not hesitate to call our office today for assistance.