CO - Christa Benton, 37, dead in murder-suicide: Police didn't make earlier arrest?

[PastTense]

Two lives were taken in a murder-suicide Wednesday in Littleton. Now family members of the victims are speaking, in a story exclusive to FOX31...

Police were called to the Cherrywood Apartments in Littleton near Broadway and Littleton Blvd. Wednesday around 3 p.m. They found the bodies of Benton and her boyfriend David Fallon. The two had been together on-and-off for 15 years. Benton died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the head.

Family tells FOX31 Denver that was the second time police were called to Benton’s apartment that day. Early Wednesday morning, family says the two were fighting and Benton called police for a domestic violence issue. Benton posted on Facebook at 5:30 a.m. that Fallon tried to break her neck.

http://kdvr.com/2016/01/10/family-s...uicide-leaves-two-teens-without-parents-home/

Another article:
http://www.westword.com/news/murder...l-posts-a-hole-tried-to-break-my-neck-7495770


It would seem trying to break someone's neck is aggravated assault and the police should have made an arrest the first time they were there. Thus the murder wouldn't have happened. Any thoughts?

 

[LayzeeDayzee]

I guess it depends what she reported to police. Kind of weird for her to have posted that on Facebook, who posts stuff like that? Judging by posts on her FB page and info in the articles, all I can say is that I feel sorry for her kids, they obviously grew up in a very dysfunctional home filled no doubt with lots of violence and chaos. Hoping they get a better life now.

 

[Woodland]

Are there 'rules' in Colorado regarding LE called to a domestic violence incident? Is it standard practice in Colorado to remove one of two people from an incident where one person is putting their hands on another?

If so, were the cops that responded to this incident weary of what they were seeing/hearing and walked away hoping for the best? Agree that it matters what Benton said to responding LE - but if it was clear Fallon had put his hands on her - this is when any rules kick in. We're past the era of placing the laying of charges for violence on the the shoulders of victims.