FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DA SEEKS CHANGE TO LAW
IN WAKE OF APPLEBY MURDER

San Antonio, Texas: February 11, 2009:

In the wake of the murder of Kristy Appleby, Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed has requested the Bexar County legislative delegation to file and carry proposed changes to the Family Code provisions related to Protective Orders.

On November 7, 2008, Kristy Appleby had met with and discussed her request for a civil protective order with a domestic violence advocate. She was correctly informed that she did not qualify under Texas law for the civil order. Additionally she was advised to follow up with the Bexar County Sheriff’s office on the alleged October 26th assault. An offense report had been made to the Sheriff’s department concerning those events.

Her ineligibility for a Protective Order has led the District Attorney to seek a change to the Protective Order laws.

The changes are designed to protect a third party from violence arising from the third party’s dating relationship with the former spouse or boyfriend / girlfriend of an individual bent on violence.

For more information, contact Susan D. Reed, Bexar County Criminal District Attorney at 210-335-2342