Clinton, Mo., murders highlight dangers of leaving abusive situations

Sandra Sutton won her freedom and safety in a desperate act of courage.

But like many other victims of domestic violence, safety for Sutton proved illusory and short-lived.

Less than a month after she got away from the man who abused her and confined her in a wooden box, Sutton and her 17-year-old son were found shot to death inside a relative’s home in Clinton, Mo.

James Barton Horn Jr., the man who abused her and is suspected of killing her, later was shot to death by police.

Police say they provided Sutton with information about domestic violence services and safety options after her April 30 escape from the home she and Horn shared in Sedalia, Mo.

And they say officers exhausted every possible lead in their search for Horn before Sutton and her son were killed.

But the case highlights both the danger victims face when attempting to escape an abusive situation and the limitations police have in protecting them.

“It’s an ongoing perpetual problem,” said Will Marling, executive director for the National Organization for Victim Assistance in Alexandria, Va. “Local law enforcement doesn’t do personal protection.”

What police can do is help move a victim to a safe place and provide her with contact information for services in the community.

That’s what happened in Sutton’s case, said Sedalia Police Chief John DeGonia.

Victim advocates from the prosecuting attorney offices in Pettis County, where Sedalia is located, and Henry County, where Sutton moved, were in contact with her, DeGonia said.

In Sedalia, an organization called CASA (Citizens Against Spousal Abuse) provides services for domestic violence victims, including an emergency shelter.

Lori Haney, executive director of CASA, would not comment specifically about the Sutton case or even if Sutton sought help.

The victim advocates from Pettis and Henry counties also declined to comment.

But Haney said CASA uses “client-centered advocacy.”

“We let the client lead the way and let us know what their needs are,” she said. “Ultimately it is truly up to the survivor.”

DeGonia said police can only guide a crime victim toward help.

“We can’t force her to take our advice,” he said. “We can’t make somebody stay somewhere.”

Sutton was living with her brother when she was killed.

“She felt she was in a safe place,” the chief said.

Sutton, 42, and Horn, 47, had started living together in Sedalia in September. On April 30, she ran to a neighbor’s house and called police.

By the time officers arrived, Horn had fled.

She later described how Horn had kept her isolated and confined for several months. At times he would lock her inside a wooden box when he left the residence.

Pettis County prosecutors charged him with kidnapping, armed criminal action and criminal use of a weapon. A warrant for his arrest was issued.

“We used all the investigative tools we have to find him,” DeGonia said.

That included attempts to track him through his cellphone and credit card activity. But Horn stopped using his phone and credit cards shortly after he fled, DeGonia said.

Horn’s relatives who live in the area allowed police to search their homes. Officers also conducted undercover surveillance at several locations but never spotted Horn.

They also sought to contact friends and associates, but Horn had few friends and did not use social media.

“He pretty much stayed to himself,” DeGonia said.

Police still were “searching diligently” for Horn when Sutton and her son, Zachary Ward Sutton, were found dead May 21 in Clinton, about 45 miles from Sedalia.

Domestic violence advocates say it can be extremely difficult for victims to leave abusive situations.

Abusers employ a variety of tactics to dominate and control victims, including threats and stalking, mental and emotional abuse, isolation from friends and family, financial and economic control and sexual abuse, according to the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence.

“Understanding these various tactics of abuse and the increased risk of danger when leaving can help all of us understand why it can be so difficult for victims of abuse to leave,” the coalition advises.

And when victims finally do leave, it can trigger even more violent behavior from the abuser. For someone leaving a highly abusive relationship, the risk of being killed increases nine-fold, according to studies cited by multiple agencies that work with domestic violence victims.

“In a highly abusive situation, leaving can be the most frightening and most dangerous time,” said Emily Truscott, communications director for the Missouri coalition.

She said people who know someone being abused often question why the person doesn’t leave sooner or doesn’t do certain things after leaving.

“While we all want to identify how this happened and prevent it from happening to someone else in the future, it’s important to understand that the victim is making the best decision they can at that time,” Truscott said.

Successfully escaping an abusive situation often requires months of planning and saving money, according to Marling with the national victim’s group.

When victims reach out for help or advice, advocates typically counsel them to develop a strategy for safeguarding themselves and their children, he said.

“They need to plan to leave,” Marling said. “It’s not as simple as running out the door.”

Obtaining a court order of protection is another option for victims, but police said Sutton did not seek one.

Such an order allows police to arrest the abuser if he tries to contact the victim. But in Horn’s case, a warrant for his arrest already existed.

Protection orders are at best a 50/50 proposition when it comes to deterring an abuser from future acts of violence, Marling said.

“If someone doesn’t respect another human being and already doesn’t respect the law, what’s it going to do?” he asked. “A piece of paper will not stop a bullet.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2015 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Clinton, Mo., murders highlight dangers of leaving abusive situations."