There seems to be a "before the charges" story, and an "after the charges" story. In an email Coleman stated that Boyle was never violent prior to the kidnapping. After the charges, she says something different.
They made a decision to travel together, and they made a mistake.
"When they were married in 2011, bureaucracy kept them living apart ... “Unaware of the difficult residence and work issues upon a Canadian and American marrying, they planned a series of lengthy travels for 2 years before settling down to family life,” Boyle’s parents said.
“In 2011, they spent 4 months travelling throughout all the countries of Central America, returning for Thanksgiving. They enjoyed staying in hostels and tents, connecting as much as possible with local people and helping out as opportunities arose.”
...
Boyle’s parents said he left with Coleman in July for a six-month trip to Russia and Central Asia. “They were to have returned in early December. We weren’t aware of Caity’s pregnancy when they left,” the Boyles said in their email. “Afghanistan was not part of their original travel plan.”
...
The Colemans were not sure how the young couple got into Afghanistan or what they intended to do there, though they described them as “tourists.”
Khadr’s Canadian ex-husband and new wife missing in Afghanistan | The Star
