Patricia Askew, a 42-year-old woman from Corpus Christi, Texas, was tragically killed on September 25, 2014, in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide. Patricia, who was of Caucasian ethnicity, was found lying facedown in the street with several fatal gunshot wounds to her back. Her estranged husband, 51-year-old David Askew, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head near the front door of their home in the Kings Crossing neighborhood.
The couple had a history of domestic violence, and Patricia had filed for a protective order against David prior to the incident.
Court documents revealed that Patricia had been in fear of imminent physical harm from David, who had a history of violent behavior towards her. On August 14, 2014, David had hit Patricia in the back of the head with a bottle, choked her, and pressed his foot on her neck so hard that she couldn't breathe. Patricia had sought legal protection, and a magistrate's order was filed on August 11, 2014, requiring David to stay at least 200 yards away from her. Despite these measures, the violence continued, and Patricia was in the process of seeking an extension of the protective order at the time of her death.
David Askew had been arrested and charged with assault on Patricia in August 2014, and an emergency protective order was issued. However, he was not required to wear a tracking monitor, which could have alerted authorities if he violated the protective order. The tragic incident highlighted the need for more stringent measures to protect victims of domestic violence, and it sparked discussions among criminal justice officials and domestic violence advocates about the use of electronic monitoring devices in pretrial domestic violence cases.
Patricia's death was one of several domestic violence-related homicides in Corpus Christi in 2014. Her friends and family, including her daughter Brittney Harner, became advocates for domestic violence awareness and prevention. They organized memorial services and fundraisers to honor Patricia's memory and to raise awareness about the dangers of domestic violence. The Women's Shelter of South Texas also honored Patricia's memory and emphasized the importance of vigilance and legal protection for victims of domestic violence.
