Every F*cking Day of My Life
Married at 16 years – with 18 years of violence following – left Wendy terrified. She summoned the courage to deal with her husband the only way she knew possible.
Originally as One Minute to Nine, this documentary finally arrives at HBO with a somewhat more in-your-face title – and, in a stark, spare way that has come to characterize the pay channel, delivers a pretty bracing wallop.
A harrowing portrait of domestic abuse, the project draws heavily on video shot by the dead abuser, as his wife, Wendy Maldonado, spends her final days of freedom before going to jail for his murder.
The net result is every bit as chilling and depressing as one might expect. Includes captions for the hearing impaired.
Related Documentaries:
December 28, 2010 at 10:09 pm | fuckgreece
thats some fucked up shit
December 29, 2010 at 12:58 pm | pocky
What makes it all the more scary and surreal is the matter of fact way she speaks about the abuse, like it was just a normal part of every day life. That we have a justice system that would send her to jail for defending herself and her children disgusts me.
December 29, 2010 at 8:18 pm | Zenqi
The saddest part of this story is that these people don’t seem to be seeking the answers to why this happened in the first place and taking action to get therapy and to ensure that the cycle does not continue. Those kids are doomed unless they get some serious help.
May 2, 2011 at 8:39 am | Nightwishes
I don’t think it’s fair at all to say that the boys are doomed. As a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a close family member, I can honestly say that I’ll never continue the circle. My children will never know what it’s like to be hurt that way by a sibling, or anyone else, for that matter. Do you know how many times I was told that I was helpless, that because of what happened to me, I simply WAS going to molest my children, that there was no going around it? Do you know how disgusting that is? Why should it be any different with physical abuse? Those boys saw first hand the horror that was their father, I can guarantee that, now that the situation has been addressed as abusive and wrong, they are perfectly at will to chose to live the lives they please. No one is ever “helpless” or “doomed” to recreate the lives their parents lived. We live our lives the way we chose. No more, no less.
June 1, 2011 at 4:13 pm | CrackedPepper86
Kudos.
October 8, 2011 at 5:05 am | Mel
Do you mean doomed as in seriously hurt emotionally for life; problems with depression, anxiety, ptsd? Or do you mean in carrying on in the same abusive manner as their father? To me it seems as if you are implying the former and in that I would agree with you. They definitely need help in dealing with the hurt from the abuse they suffered. If you meant the latter, than I disagree because they seem to know very well that what their father did to them was wrong and hurtful so they are unlikely to do the same to others. As Nightwishes already stated being a victim doesn’t sentence you to a life of being a perpetrator. In my personal experience the perpetrators of abuse have been those with no abusive background but instead one of maybe a little too much excess. Those with a high sense of entitlement and feelings of superiority are the most likely to abuse others because they view them as less-than. Just my personal experience, but I know I read somewhere that new studies show that the vast majority of bullies tend to be people with excessively high self-esteem and not low as most people used to believe.
October 8, 2011 at 5:05 am | Mel
Do you mean doomed as in seriously hurt emotionally for life; problems with depression, anxiety, ptsd? Or do you mean in carrying on in the same abusive manner as their father? To me it seems as if you are implying the former and in that I would agree with you. They definitely need help in dealing with the hurt from the abuse they suffered. If you meant the latter, than I disagree because they seem to know very well that what their father did to them was wrong and hurtful so they are unlikely to do the same to others. As Nightwishes already stated being a victim doesn’t sentence you to a life of being a perpetrator. In my personal experience the perpetrators of abuse have been those with no abusive background but instead one of maybe a little too much excess. Those with a high sense of entitlement and feelings of superiority are the most likely to abuse others because they view them as less-than. Just my personal experience, but I know I read somewhere that new studies show that the vast majority of bullies tend to be people with excessively high self-esteem and not low as most people used to believe.
January 2, 2011 at 2:31 pm | Johnathon
I think that the woman choose to be with this type of guy and should deal with that fact.
January 19, 2011 at 8:08 pm | BaltimoreJen
asshole
February 20, 2011 at 2:21 am | janice
complete asshole!
March 29, 2011 at 12:06 pm | L.B
usually people with this mentality have grown up witnessing abuse… Educate yourself is all I can say. As this is as backwards point of view.
October 7, 2011 at 6:56 pm | Che3333
If that’s not the sign of an abusers thoughts, I don’t know what is.
November 24, 2011 at 11:33 am | Jessmc45
You are such an idiot
January 3, 2011 at 8:31 am | Peter D
This story breaks my heart. I had a friend when I was growing up named Marv whose stepfather slept in bed with a shotgun and beat him up every day after school. I wouldn’t say his father was an evil psychopath, but definitely should never have been allowed near children.
Fortunately for Marv, my parents and my friends parents let Marv live in our homes during the “bad” times. The problem for this woman and her family was that her husband was threatening to kill anyone willing to help her or her kids. They didn’t seek help because they didn’t want to endanger more people. They were living with a class A dangerous psychopath and didn’t know how to escape.
I think this is a tragic story of abuse and I am sure after watching the clips of the husband, any sane person would agree that the neighbors should have intervened in force with the assistance of the law to get that piece of %$#@ away from that mother and her kids. Sad times when a mother has to go to jail to protect the lives of her children.
January 16, 2011 at 4:15 am | Renee` H.
So disheartening to watch. There should be more education as to why young girls select men such as this and how to avoid them, as well as if they find themselves in an abusive situation, how to get the necessary help to protect themselves and their children. I appreciated the judge’s comments in the end. It was clear he was moved by their testimony and all they had endured by the hands of the monster but he was still bound by the law as she had taken justice in her own hands and had not utilized the system. Had she had help in knowing she would had been supported, this may never have happened and she could be with her children now.
January 28, 2011 at 3:51 am | Kate
That sounds a lot like victim-blaming to me. Men who abuse women don’t have ‘watch out I’m an abuser’ written on their foreheads. Women aren’t picking abusers. They’re meeting nice men that suddenly turn and are not ‘nice’ anymore. We should be teaching men about respect for women and violence in the home – not putting the onus on victims. When a woman leaves her abusers that’s when she’s at the most risk of losing her life. It’s easier to say what women should and shouldn’t do – why not talk about abusers?
June 1, 2011 at 4:12 pm | CrackedPepper86
Kate, I agree that a person cannot be blamed for choosing an abusive partner. But murder is never necessary. If a relationship gets to the point where someone is afraid for their life, they should take the appropriate actions and not take the law into their own hands.
June 21, 2011 at 1:20 am | Bad News
The issue is when the law does not act properly. There is a significant chance of the abusive man being taken into court but getting off lightly, oftentimes allowing him back out into the community with the potential to terrorize his partner all over again.
June 21, 2011 at 1:20 am | Bad News
The issue is when the law does not act properly. There is a significant chance of the abusive man being taken into court but getting off lightly, oftentimes allowing him back out into the community with the potential to terrorize his partner all over again.
October 7, 2011 at 6:55 pm | Che3333
I was once part of a victim’s group where a woman told a story about how her husband raped her. When she called the cops they came over, she sat on the stairs crying well the husband explained she “got off” on the force. The cop chuckled and left her there, where he beat her until she was unconscious. Three days later she ran from him, although she managed to get free, she was forced to allow him to see her children for six months until the court awarded her custody. Justice was served in the end, eh? Only took humiliation, degradation, and getting beat half to death.
October 15, 2011 at 7:53 pm | Anonymous
I disagree. It was obvious she had to take matters into her own hands. He threatened multiple times that if she left he would kill her relatives. The “system” does not work for cases like this. The system does not have the laws or the resources to have kept him out of society for the rest of her life.
At least he knows now how that deer felt.
November 3, 2011 at 5:55 am | sheila
I can’t believe the amount of victim blaming going on. This man was a sadistic psychopath who tortured his own family. She did what she had to do, and he clearly would have murdered her and/or her family had she tried to escape or tell someone. The police were there THAT NIGHT and despite the neighbours warnings they just left a obviously beaten woman and her son. She said in the video that his scary abusive side didn’t come out until her first son was 1 1/2. How is that her fault? Do you have any idea how many women are killed by their abusive husbands? Lots. Many of which occur when the woman leaves.
Maybe if judgmental ignorant idiots stopped blaming victims of abuse there wouldn’t be so much stigma around domestic violence and sexual assault and the victims could actually come forward for help.
January 16, 2011 at 2:32 pm | Chris
Heartbreaking, that poor family, and the sad thing is, in Australia, she’d have been able to plead provocation which would have ended up with her sentence being manslaughter not murder, and shed have only received between 3-6 years. Honestly, I think they got off OK given what the two did was blatant murder, even given the history of violence. There was no way they were ever going to get off unpunished.
Shame.
March 7, 2011 at 2:05 pm | ray
hi
my wife has been beating me pschologically for over 20 years of our mariage.Now that i want a separation she is even more intense with making my life a living hell.
Its strange that when men are the victims of psychological abuse they are almost ridiculed and shamed by soceity and their work friends.Some have even left work due to mental depression with the resultant poverty and of his family.
Lawyers and some police officials too are an unhelpful breed in this matter,giving me the advice not to take any notice of her continuous attacks.Oh well maybe some day our (men) time will come when we will be taken seriously.
tks
ray
March 12, 2011 at 2:29 pm | Ellie
Hi Ray…I have no doubt that there are women who abuse…to think it is only men who abuse is absurd. It saddens me that for some people, mindless abuse controls their anger, rather than identifying issues and trying to resolve them in a violent free way.
The only advice I have is to continue to take care of your mental/spiritual health. Only you can control your thoughts and your self esteem. Any person that devalues who you are, are wrong, period. You must believe that you are a valuable human being and nuture your inner self.
Peace to you Ray.
October 8, 2011 at 4:49 am | Mel
Sorry to hear of your situation. You are right. Abuse goes both ways and can happen in the home, at work, and school, etc. The truth is that abuse by anyone against another is extremely damaging to them and completely wrong! I myself was mentally and physically abused by my step fathers and I understand how you (and the woman in this docu must feel). Abuse changes you. It destroys your soul and creates a fear that is hard to explain to people who have never been through these controlling abusive circumstances. I’m so glad to hear that you are finally separating from her. I wish you all the best in your new life! I’m so happy 4u
October 8, 2011 at 4:49 am | Mel
Sorry to hear of your situation. You are right. Abuse goes both ways and can happen in the home, at work, and school, etc. The truth is that abuse by anyone against another is extremely damaging to them and completely wrong! I myself was mentally and physically abused by my step fathers and I understand how you (and the woman in this docu must feel). Abuse changes you. It destroys your soul and creates a fear that is hard to explain to people who have never been through these controlling abusive circumstances. I’m so glad to hear that you are finally separating from her. I wish you all the best in your new life! I’m so happy 4u
April 10, 2011 at 7:28 am | art
I knew a nice man, in the beginning. We married and the abuse (although at the time I didn’t realize that it was abuse) started subtly. First it began as me being his property and signs of anger toward me if other men paid attention to me. In the beginning, I was flattered but also upset that he would even think I would cheat on him. Also, financial. The money he made was his and he was ‘being generous’ by letting me use some of the money. I was never allowed to forget that the money was HIS. (I also worked and our money was pooled into a joint account) At parties, I was the brunt of his jokes. Eventually the abuse became physical. I will never forget the utter feeling of helplessness I experienced and the complete humiliation. After a long illness, he died and I am now trying to put my life back together and to figure out who I am. Because when someone suffers from prolonged abuse, I have learned through therapists, it can leave a person confused. Who am I? Did I do something to cause the abuse? What was it about me that made me vulnerable? Will I ever be able to trust again? Believe me, it is a long haul and no one walks away from abuse without injury both physical and mental. It has been two years now….I am still trying to heal.
April 10, 2011 at 7:42 am | art
This is for Jonathan….By the way, just one more thing. I did not choose an abusive man. There were no signs telling me that eventually my 102 lb. body would be dragged down a hallway by one 200lb. man leaving it bruised and battered, with one shoulder nearly yanked from the socket. I believe that it is too easy to judge others. Continuous abuse leaves a person with NO or very little self esteem. What is even more confusing is when you actually loved this person and are so very betrayed. I am not a stupid person….as a university graduate, you would think that I would know better….well it just isn’t that easy!!!!!!
April 20, 2011 at 3:44 pm | Knat
Chris,
She did not get sentenced for murder, she took a plea deal so she either got voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. I’m guessing with a ten year sentence it was considered voluntary and the fact that she actually hit him in the head and didn’t accidentally hit him with a car or something.
The sad thing is she likely would have been acquitted if she had had a murder trial. I mean c’mon if OJ can do it she definitely could have. I see the saddest part in all of this that she was too scared and had lost her faith so she just took the deal as a guaranteed lesser sentence. That is somebody who has lost their spirit.
I pray for her and her family and am glad that even though she is in prison she is more free than she has been in a long time.
August 24, 2011 at 5:49 am | Effik
if the glove dont fit, acquit.
oh and it helps if you are rich. i dont think they were so she would have had trouble getting away with it…
April 20, 2011 at 3:44 pm | Knat
Chris,
She did not get sentenced for murder, she took a plea deal so she either got voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. I’m guessing with a ten year sentence it was considered voluntary and the fact that she actually hit him in the head and didn’t accidentally hit him with a car or something.
The sad thing is she likely would have been acquitted if she had had a murder trial. I mean c’mon if OJ can do it she definitely could have. I see the saddest part in all of this that she was too scared and had lost her faith so she just took the deal as a guaranteed lesser sentence. That is somebody who has lost their spirit.
I pray for her and her family and am glad that even though she is in prison she is more free than she has been in a long time.
April 30, 2011 at 10:32 pm | Backlinks
This was a really interesting story.
June 8, 2011 at 1:09 pm | kris
does anyone know where i can get the “kaos” album?
June 13, 2011 at 5:44 am | Hen
It’s just so sad that the family talks about these events as being completely normal. At first I thought they were acting normal in order to cover up the fact that they were really scarred and upset by what happened…but I don’t know, I think for them these events were as normal as getting up in the morning. Really upsetting.
June 13, 2011 at 5:44 am | Hen
It’s just so sad that the family talks about these events as being completely normal. At first I thought they were acting normal in order to cover up the fact that they were really scarred and upset by what happened…but I don’t know, I think for them these events were as normal as getting up in the morning. Really upsetting.
July 12, 2011 at 5:03 am | S.Poet
Her neighbors knew what was going on. I’d have silently taken him out and put him in the ground if I was the neighbor. It is disgusting that people in these comments are blaming the victim. I hope you are just being trolls for reaction. If not, you are sick and need therapy.
July 21, 2011 at 10:24 pm | Gred40
I will never understand why women do not just leave.
October 7, 2011 at 5:04 am | Che3333
Most of the time, you’re absolutely terrified of them. A fear that is unexplainable. And contrary to some people’s beliefs, the courts don’t just hide you the minute you say you’re abused.
October 8, 2011 at 4:41 am | Mel
It’s explainable. It’s what every child who’s been abused feels every day but unlike the adults in the family they cannot do anything to escape the situation if the parents both accept the arrangement and the way things are done in the family. A woman can get in the car and drive away while a kid could also get in a car and drive away but they will be brought right back to the doorstep of the abuser by the people who are supposed to protect them from crimes: the police. My point is that at least women have some options whereas children have none. They might not be ideal options but as with most things in life you should at least pick “the lesser of the two evils” if you get what I mean.
October 7, 2011 at 5:04 am | Che3333
Most of the time, you’re absolutely terrified of them. A fear that is unexplainable. And contrary to some people’s beliefs, the courts don’t just hide you the minute you say you’re abused.
October 8, 2011 at 4:34 am | Mel
I agree to a certain extent Gred. I think if a woman decides to stay because she is scared of leaving or love’s the guy, etc. that is understandable to a certain extent.. if it is just her, but the moment she has kids everything changes. You no longer have the right to do what feels best for you but instead have to do what’s best for the kids no matter what you may feel. Honestly what is the worst that would have happened if she left he kill her? Is that any worse than 20 years of getting beat up and threatened to be killed? It makes no sense why someone with kids would stay unless they also don’t care about their kids very much because I would willingly die to protect my kids. This woman failed her children and out of selfishness. She did what was right for her and not her kids and now they are scarred for life.
October 8, 2011 at 4:34 am | Mel
I agree to a certain extent Gred. I think if a woman decides to stay because she is scared of leaving or love’s the guy, etc. that is understandable to a certain extent.. if it is just her, but the moment she has kids everything changes. You no longer have the right to do what feels best for you but instead have to do what’s best for the kids no matter what you may feel. Honestly what is the worst that would have happened if she left he kill her? Is that any worse than 20 years of getting beat up and threatened to be killed? It makes no sense why someone with kids would stay unless they also don’t care about their kids very much because I would willingly die to protect my kids. This woman failed her children and out of selfishness. She did what was right for her and not her kids and now they are scarred for life.
October 26, 2011 at 7:38 am | tatra77
With all due respect, Mel, it seems from your words that you have either no or very little experience with extreme domestic violence of the nature depicted in this film. For this, I am grateful, as NO ONE anywhere should EVER endure that kind of physical, emotional, and psychological torture.
Aaron was not just violent, he was sadistic. He was dangerous in ways well beyond the physical harm he inflicted on his wife and children. Wendy knew that if she were to leave, Aaron would likely make good on the threats he had made to murder her mother, sister, friend and their children. This case was not about Wendy alone, nor could she alone put an end to Aaron’s abuse. He had followed through on his threats of violence to her in the past, so how could she trust that if she left, he wouldn’t hunt down and kill her, her children, and/or her extended family.
In every sense, Wendy was alone. Her sister said in the film that they all knew if they called the contacted police on her behalf, Wendy would be the one harmed. Aaron was paranoid, possibly delusional, and obsessed with control to the length of putting surveillance cameras and microphones on the exterior of their home. The fear that instilled in Wendy and Randy prevented them from being able to tell the police that Aaron was the reason Randy had dialed 911 the night of the killing. The fear in Randy’s voice on the 911 tape in obvious and heart-wrenching. This child was as desperate as his mother to keep their family alive, even if that meant refusing to give his address to the 911 operator. Had police arrived specifically to question Aaron, he would have known one of them had called, and whether he was arrested then or not, Randy knew his father would punish the whole family for his phone call.
The reality in which Wendy and her family lived would be unrecognisable to any outsider. People say things like “she could go to the police” or “why wouldn’t she just leave?” without understanding the context of living every day in fear for your life and the lives of your children. Aaron had complete control over the minds and wills of his family members. In Wendy’s abused mind, her kids were better off alive, even if that meant living in constant fear of more violence.
Make no mistake, I do not believe the choice to kill Aaron was the right one. I do however understand why Wendy and Randy believed it was their only choice. Earlier that night, Randy asked for help – begged for police to come. The cops came, and at the sight of a clearly battered woman and child (as per her mug shot and the description Randy gave of his appearance that night), chose to leave the scene with little or no real investigation of the complaint. When the system of justice we’re supposed to rely on virtually ignored the Maldonado’s plight, how could they possibly believe that same system could save them from the horror of their lives?
This story is a tragedy. Sadly, it is an all-too-familiar one for so many families. Aaron should never have abused his family. Wendy and Randy should not have killed Aaron. The system of justice should have been more prepared to help all of them. There are only losers in this story. My only hope is that the public recounting of stories like these will help people understand what it means to live with abuse, and that our communities and governments can better work together to support individuals and families trying to escape that abuse.
November 24, 2011 at 11:30 am | Jessica
Perfectly said tatra
November 24, 2011 at 11:28 am | Jessica
Im sorry Mel but you really have no idea. It is survival. She can’t just go to the police and in 2 hours he is locked up for good, it doesnt work like that. Her fear was so strong that she was afraid he would kill her children, family or herself.
November 11, 2011 at 6:48 am | Jackie
They are paralyzed by fear. If you were told by someone that they were going to kill your mother, father, children, anyone you loved….and you BELIEVED them, you would do whatever it takes to protect your loved ones. That might mean being beat every day of your life.
February 20, 2012 at 9:36 am | Gladen5
I would just like to add it was stated that her husband was unemployed and always at home.
July 21, 2011 at 10:24 pm | Gred40
I will never understand why women do not just leave.
July 21, 2011 at 10:24 pm | Gred40
I will never understand why women do not just leave.
September 1, 2011 at 8:54 am | jenn
“is your songs okay?” wth is wrong with people’s grammar.
September 1, 2011 at 5:19 pm | Robby Baker
I have lived through this kind of life with an abusive and violent father. I think he got what he deserved. I do not blame her but nevertheless she did murder him and she should have gone another route to breaking free. There are resources for women in abusive relationships that take them and protect them. She could have done like my mother and left him and gone to another state.
September 13, 2011 at 11:36 pm | MOA
This is without a doubt the saddest domestic violence story I have ever encountered. I agree a million times that he sort of brought it to himself, there was no other way out. Like the judge said, no one wins in these situations and no one gets away with anything. It is remarkable that she made it all the way to where she is and did not become cynical or anything, you can just see in the video that she is at PEACE, who wouldn’t be after all she went through? Even though she’ll be in jail, she will be a million times better and her kids will be too. Let’s just hope that the craziness is not genetic in this case and that her kids grow to be good citizens in this society and not repeat the same pattern. God Bless This Family.
October 8, 2011 at 4:22 am | Mel
My question is if all these people knew what was going on why didn’t any of them try to help her get away? If that was my relative or friend I would wait until the guy was gone and drive up with a truck and take them with me and call the cops and have them watch the family or at least let them know that he may come over and try to hurt them. I would take her to the authorities and file a report so that he would no longer have rights to the kids, etc. One other comment, not to minimize this woman’s pain or fear in staying with her husband, but it’s one thing if you gamble with your life but when you have kids you don’t have the right to gamble with their’s. Honestly if it was me I could see staying if it was just myself because it would only be my life but if or as soon as I had a kid I would leave immediately. There’s no way I would let my kids get hurt or witness me getting hurt. If nothing else she should have stopped him from hurting her kids. This makes it hard for me to feel sorry for her at least in that respect.
November 18, 2011 at 5:34 pm | Princess_Peach
I really think there should be a warning about the fawn scene!
November 20, 2011 at 1:10 am | Anonymous
What a load of shit
November 24, 2011 at 11:35 am | Jessicamc45
I dont believe al women are like that. Please be careful with your words tart, brain devoted to shopping etc. That is very generalised and offensive.
November 26, 2011 at 1:28 am | EagerBeaver
I truly believe psychological traps are far more dangerous than any physical harm and this is exactly the case we see here.
The horror in her eyes in visible in EVERY video and her kids’ absolute fear. I was gulping down my tears towards the end.
What I don’t understand is the apathy from people who CLEARLY knew what was going on – they could have helped her. Aaron seemed to ONLY inflict abuse on his family, he never (thankfully) substantiated his evil on outsiders as far as we know and therefore they should have gathered the monster was hell bent on just control. The tears they are streaming are simply guilt. Let them flow.
I won’t pretend I know what this woman felt or her kids went through and I hope to never do so either but if I were her so far down the abuse line – I would have done the same but been ballsier about the acquittal.
On a final note, Aaron’s brother – burn.in.hell.with.him.
Peace out.
December 5, 2011 at 11:23 am | Linda
Comment?!!! I could write a book on how I feel about this! Wendy has been given a sentence of jail when she should have been given a medal! It’s just a shame that Aaron didn’t suffer the same amount of pain for the years that his wife and children did before he drew his last breath! I wonder what kind of sentence he would have been given if he had actually killed his wife. Probably much less. He didn’t want to kill her. Where’s his fun in that! He wanted to torture and torment, dominate and be feared! To feel powerful and in control. I know of these pathetic small men who lord their strength and ignorance over defenseless women, children and animals. And what about all the people who knew what was happening and looked the other way! By their silence and avoidance they condone his behaviour. It takes courage to confront these low lifes. People are afraid they might have to give up something of their own to get involved, which they are mostly not willing to do! It is much easier to look the other way. And when the law does, why shouldn’t they!? If she needs help to get out who is going to help her? Not me, let someone else, I’ve got my own family to think about. Let the government, social services etc…and the nightmare goes on and on and this is the end result. This family will never recover. Those children are damaged for life! Their pain will never end. That SOB deserved everything he got and more if it were possible! When are we ever going to stop tolerating violence under any circumstances and accept and teach it as totally unacceptable behaviour that has consequences? May this family and all the others going through the same ordeal finally find the peace they never had and are so entitled to and deserve!….. And we call ourselves evolved!
January 1, 2012 at 8:26 pm | steroids
angry title for this doc.
January 5, 2012 at 6:27 am | Geust
Ok, I’m not gonna watch. Just thinking about abuse makes me feel sick and helpless. As a man, I’d just want to kill him myself…torture him to death. See the horrible things it does to my brain? Nope, not gonna watch.
February 19, 2012 at 3:12 am | Yvoelirey
He was a cruel sadistic poor excuse for a human being. My heart goes out to her and her children. May they find the peace they deserve.
February 23, 2012 at 5:06 am | Guess
wendy is such a stong person all my respect for her
March 20, 2012 at 3:24 am | Joe
I didn’t see or hear (other) than a hanging sign on the kitchen wall with the words “Christ” but not mention about God what’s overever, except in a curse way. When families a brought up without a concept of God they loose life value. I saw how he kicked the deer and thats how he valued humans too, including his family. If they (yes, all) seeked God in any way or form, this could be avoid it. Yes, I know somebody going to critize me for mention God, but is a way to change people without seeking useless, profesional or govermental help. The husband’s problem was spiritual. Yes, there still hope for this family, even while their mom is in jail.
April 23, 2012 at 9:52 am | No-Name
I agree Joe – and Randy did mention that they prayed before they actually went in and killed Aaron.
He didn’t really elaborate on this but you get a sense that they were trying to figure out what to do….one of the most famous men in the Bible was guilty of murder – Moses.
Aaron had NO RESPECT for ANY LIFE – and sometimes drastic actions are required.
I think that Wendy did the right thing here….and while I know that murder is wrong, and I get that people simply cannot understand if they have not lived through anything like this (I have) – this level of abuse is the worst I have ever seen – and Aaron was clearly demented and sick!
I honestly think that this is the ONLY way this was going to stop….with the laws we have about this in our country – they are ineffective.
The police were there ON THIS NIGHT – told by the neighbors to go back and they DID NOT!
I imagine Wendy was probably just sorry that the idea had never came to her before this night.
I am concerned about the boys – I doubt they will become abusers BUT – what if Aaron truly had something wrong with him that could be genetic?
What if they have any of these tendencies?
===================
It is a REALLY sad thing that our country cannot find a way to deal with things like this, and that this mother has to pay such a high price for finally being able to protect her children from a monster that claimed to love all of them.
Even in the face of knowing that they now must pay for their crime – you could finally see a glimmer of hope in their eyes – to finally be rid of the torture.
April 24, 2012 at 10:30 am | Tanya
That’s ridiculous, there are so many white woman in america who get away with killing their abusive husband…such as Amber Cummings and Barbara Sheehan…in the same country!! Apparently they both claimed the “battered-woman” defence. Why couldn’t Wendy and Rand use the same defence in the same country?? Wendy and Randy were subjected to abuse far longer than Amber Cummings who killed her husband after a few years..Wendy had 19! Also the other two women planned and plotted to kill their husbands murder, and shot him. Wendy and Randy made the split second decision and were extremely open about it format he start. There IS a defence in the US for this situation…battered-woman defence….and it’s been used for years before Wendy. Why wasn’t Wendy allowed this defence.
Why didn’t the judge himself speak to a higher body about this case. Amber and Barbara clearly got this defence which is how it should be. The law has no common sense, I thought that was the whole point of a judge…i.e. to judge! What the hell do they get paid so much money for to sit on their ass and give a verdict that a computer could have generated?
They should have gone higher. Glad aaron is dead, and I wish he could have died in a way that expressed the pain that all his victims felt. They need to have a proper program in place for victims of abuse. Women don’t even know what evidence they need to convict a man. That’s the problem, you go to the police and the worst he’ll get is a few years in jail and when he gets out he’ll kill you and the kids. It’s happened to so many wman who have tried to go to the police, so I don’t blame her for just killing him. In reality, he wouldn’t have got put in prison without substantial evidence and he would have come back and killed them for sure. Wendy you a string and brave person who put up with this for longer than you should have.
April 24, 2012 at 10:39 am | Tanya
I am going to write a letter to Obama…if anyone else can find time please do the same.
May 7, 2012 at 6:13 pm | Jay
Has anyone from the Jury even looked at the home videos including this documentary? WTF?
May 15, 2012 at 2:59 am | Kissing Jesus With Tounge
Axe to the head…..Axe to the head…… lookin like a fool with an axe to the head