When Custody Goes Bad

I don’t claim to be any type of mental health expert. I cannot imagine what it’s like to be a veteran who was diagnosed with PTSD. I don’t know what led Bradley William Stone to go on his rampage. What I do know is that custody litigation is one of the most emotionally charged, expensive, scorched earth kind of court fight that there can be. No one really “wins” - everyone leaves with a scar. Judges routinely admit that these are the most difficult cases to hear.
I don’t know what was in Bradley William Stone’s mind when he decided to break into his ex-wife’s home while his children were there sleeping, and murder their mother and her family members. I don’t know what happened in the courtroom(s) during the long years of their divorce and custody litigation. I don’t know the particular situation which drove him to file an emergency custody petition. What I do know is that this was a long ugly history of fighting over the divorce and the children. Nothing good could come out of that, notwithstanding his PTSD diagnosis.
If there’s anything we can learn from this horrible situation, it’s that court and litigation should be the absolute last and final option to settle divorce and custody matters. Please, remember every action you take has consequences and it might not be what you had hoped or expected. Going to court and expecting to win is like rolling the dice and expecting your numbers to come up every time. Not going to happen. Most likely there will have to be compromise on both ends. The children may have to be interviewed by the judge or court personnel, which will be very traumatic for them. Many months and years of fighting and many thousands of dollars in legal fees. I strongly urge my clients, indeed everyone, to consider all other options first.