YOUR COMMENTS

how do you expect this order for him to stay away from her have effect,by sheriff,police anyone!!!!! when she went to him...all this blame on the law makes me sick.her husband is to blame and i wish this young woman could of realized the severity of getting a restrianing order and stayed away... the police didnt want this .a beautiful mom of 2 made a fatal mistake.. (domestic violence)seriuos and often fatal.and i feel sorry for both familys,the pain he must have felt to be losing his wife was to strong, but. .. no matter how nice he was, he still took the mother of his kids life away. he is a
(murderer). sad happening for everyone but please.... stop blaming MPD.
- pat, manchester

You think a violent man is going to listen to orders to give up his gun and to not be at the home? The problem IS the fact that people violate these powerful orders (sarcastic) every day and there are no consequences at all. If someone is known to be violent- they should be given more incentive to obey.
- cindy, manchester

You think a violent man is going to listen to orders to give up his gun and to not be at the home? The problem IS the fact that people violate these powerful orders (sarcastic) every day and there are no consequences at all. If someone is known to be violent- they should be given more incentive to obey.
- cindy, manchester

Why is it that when these things happen there are always people saying the perpetrator wasn't actually an abusive spouse? It baffles me…even in this case there is evidence that isn’t true…read around the different news outlets and you’ll read that people were aware of the abusive relationship. In truth, he was on bail after being arrested a few days prior for beating her up and throwing her down the stairs, only to take her life a few days later. Sure sounds like an abusive man to me. While I can truly feel for someone’s loss of this man, it seems obvious that he didn’t treat his wife with the same compassion that he treated others in his life. I have a hard time believing this was any different from any other controlling / abusive relationship.
- Cheryl, Derry

Well, here we go again. A horrible, domestic-related murder occurs in our city and the media is immediately trying to blame persons in government (the police, courts, sheriff's department). This poor woman was killed by a bullet fired from a gun by her estranged husband. Period. It is not the fault of the Manchester Police Department or the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department. Orders are pieces of paper that are violated every day. Just attend an arraignment session some day and count how many of the persons are in custody for violation of their restraining orders.

If he was bailed and arraigned on Wednesday and advised he could not go to 223 Jewett St., why is the Sheriff's Department told to serve him at this address after he has already been ordered to stay away from there? Why did she find the need to get a civil restraining order on the very day that the District Court entered an almost identical order against him. Also, if there was a domestic violence incident on Tuesday night, she is filing for divorce the following day? Once he was arraigned on the criminal charges and ordered to stay away from 223 Jewett St., either the locks should have been changed or this young woman should never have gone there if she was inclined to believe he would be present. Contrary to Chief Mara's earlier assertion, police departments provide civil standby when the person who is not entitled to be on the premises needs to go there to get clothes, medication, etc. If she had called the police simply to say that she wanted a civil standby so that she could go the house that she lived in, they would not have showed up.
We will never know the answer as to why this act occurred. Trying to blame her death of our law enforcement community who do the best they can under very restrictive conditions is suggesting that the recent homicide in Mont Vernon was caused by violence on television.
- Marty, Manchester

Ken,
Contrary to popular belief, Sheriffs are police officers and should enforce court orders when they serve them. They dont really need to be babysat by the manchester police department.

Jake from Manchester, do you have any suggestions on what law enforcement couldve done better based on your limited knowledge and intelect?
- Mike Paulson, manchester, nh

for people who need to blame lawenforcement you are down right stupid. if they could predict crimes there wouldnt be any!!! do you expect that we all live under survailance and lose our privacy! this is a horrible crime commited by her husband.if she didnt think her life was going to end that day how is anyone else to know.it coulnt be prevented by anyone except her husband and he obviously didnt care!!!
- pat, manchester

Gilly so true nice to hear some common sense. The domestic situation is always the worst to confront and deal with. This guy had made up his mind well before she arrived at the home of what he was going to do. Feel for the family that is left to deal with the broken hearts.
- Scotty, Summerville SC

Larry - Manchester:
I sent in a reply listing the precedents in existence. I think it may have been too long to be printed. The reader, "Simkin - Nashua," has indicated the most recent finding by the US Supreme Court. My information comes from researching the laws of this nation and the findings of its highest court. May I suggest less griping and more listening in the future? There are many web sites available to provide the information you seem to dispute One of them is the official site of the US Supreme Court. This has often been considered a reliable source of confirmed information regarding that court's findings. The First Amendment affords you the opportunity to question and speak your mind. It also permits you to be exposed to freely flowing information. Exercise this right in the future so that you don't come across as less than well informed.
- Lazarus, Manchester

Jim from Manchester.

First of all, are you for real or just some meathead who wants to spout off and cause some bad controversy? Or maybe its because you yourself have been a product of an arrest by one of Manchesters Finest. It quite obvious you have no knowledge of any of the workings of a Police Department nor a Swat or SRT team.
I happened to be one of the original members of the MPD's SRT team when it first came into existence. (And by all means very proud of it). As for your comment as to the SRT not being trained for this type of work, my friend the members of the MPD SRT teams are well trained and have competed with other teams in New England. For your information when I was a member we were trained by the Boston Police SRT Team. We trained for live and real situations. The Manchester PD SRT is well trained and above all the best in New Hampshire. As for the equipment the team has and wears it's so apparent again that you have no knowledge of what is worn by members of a SWAT team.
As for your comment about about the officers holding a fully automatic weapon, again you have no idea what your talking about. I have been in Police work for nearly 30 years and I cannot tell if a weapon is fully automatic or not until I hold that weapon in my hands. As for you seeing it from a distance and determining it as a fully automatic weapon is just a bold face lie. (You can't tell). Again you have no idea what your talking about.
As for your comment about mentality of the Officers of Manchester PD is again so wrong. The officers are well trained and for the most part everyone of them wear that badge with pride and treat everyone with the respect and dignity that they deserve. I find this post by you Jim as coming from someone with no knowledge on how a Police Department works. Comments like that are so wrong an in poor taste. Jim I beleive that MPD may still have the Citizen Police Academy. My thoughts would be, this is perfect for you (apply) or would your past prevent you from being accepted.
To my Brothers and Sisters of MPD keep up the good work I know that most of the people of Manchester believe in you, I do. Please Jim educate yourself before
saying things that are not true like this.

Ret: MPD Officer Rick Gilman
- Rick Gilman, Brooksville Florida

I went to Jr High & HS with this monster- He had no respect for women then... when i reported him to school officals I was told it was boys being boys!!! it was his way of flirting- He was a bully and no one did anything back then! My heart goes out to Melissa's family and friends. I hope the children can heal - And for people blaming the police for not taking the gun.. whats to say he wouldn't have stabbed her, strangled her.... etc.. he wanted her dead and he would have found a way one way or another!
- nh resident, manchester

Larry in Manchester:

The most recent ruling is: 7/15/05 SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES No. 04-278 TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO, PETITIONER v. JESSICA GONZALES, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS NEXT BEST FRIEND OF HER DECEASED MINOR CHILDREN, REBECCA GONZALES, KATHERYN GONZALES, AND LESLIE GONZALES
On June 27, in the case of Castle Rock v. Gonzales, the Supreme Court found that Jessica Gonzales did not have a constitutional right to individual police protection even in the presence of a restraining order.

There are many more cases with very similar outcomes. Law enforcement doe not have a responsibility to protect you as an individual. You do. It is a matter of course while carrying out their duties which brings law enforcement to the point of protecting an individual citizen. It is not the cause of their duty. "To Protect and To Serve," means protect society as a whole and to serve the common good of that society. I do not believe Lazarus is advocating the concept of taking the law into one's hands. He/She is trying to make us aware of the existing precedents. Self defense is a natural born right. You need to accept that on you are responsible for your safety. You are also responsible for the actions you take to protect yourself, so professional training is advised.
- Simkin, Nashua

This is a crime of selfishness and committed by a coward. I've know Melissa since Jr. High and she has always been the sweetest person. This guy goes and kills her because he can't have her and because if she leaves he will have no one to take out his anger on. You don't hurt anyone especially the one's you love the most and Jon did that. He took away from us all a wonderful woman and mother. Now her kids have to grow up knowing that their father killed their mother because he couldn't stand to let her leave. He took away a friend to everyone who's heart was full of love. Missy was my friend and she will be missed and never forgotten.
- A friend, Manchester, NH

Sparky, it is a felony to purchase a firearm if you are under a domestic abuse order. I am a big supporter of 2nd Amendment rights but I am all in favor of a quick check to make sure there aren't any domestic abuse warrants pending.
- Dan, Bedford

I just want to say that this was not a pattern for Jonathan -- it is a sad and tragic event that happened and if you do not know the situation you have no right judging the people involved including the police. This tragedy is effecting the family and the children- they are the ones who should be thought of at their time of sorrow!
- Lisa, Manchester NH

She knew he kept a shotgun in the closet at the Jewett St. property.

She got a restraining order to keep this guy away from her because she feared for her safety.

WHY would she go to there without a police escort? Did she think he was still being held in jail?
- CMD, Manchester

No, Larry, that's not what he's saying. It would take the police several minutes on average to respond to an emergency call, maybe longer. A lot of bad things can happen in that amount of time. Protecting yourself and family until the police arrive is NOT taking the law into your own hands, it's executing your RIGHT to self-defense. What is wrong with our society when citizens feel that they have to stop and ponder whether or not it's okay to defend themselves? I'm sure, more often than not, a police officer would rather respond to a call where there's a criminal bleeding on someone's kitchen floor as opposed to an innocent victim.
- Tim K, Jaffrey

This situation scares me as one of my best friends just filed a ROA order...it's been extended and she's more afraid for her life now, than she was before.

She's also already divorced.

This is the exact reason so many women won't take the step to protect themselves, as it causes more violence and it's so sad.

I'm going to volunteer somewhere, somehow for abused women. Many just need someone to talk to.

For those who don't think LE did enough, there unfortunately is only so much they CAN do, remember we live in a free country. We want our freedom, but then when LE can't do something because of the laws protecting OUR freedom everyone is up in arms about it.

I believe it was explained they could only ASK if he had weapons, they couldn't physically look and confiscate, they had to be given to them.

Scary stuff.....but in this world we live in, unfortunately we ask for it.

I now sleep with my phone by my bed, it is on 24/7 just in case she needs me. When her situation started I happened to hear it over a scanner and was the FIRST one there...it took 20 mins for the police to arrive, because where we are in our wonderful "rural" world, that is how it works....LE was in some other town at the time.

I pray for the kids and both families....this was a very tragic situation.
- m1e1b1s1, Claremont, nh

So maybe if a military style approach had not been used this man could have been talked down. Think about what he saw. A "tank" with an officer holding a shotgun sticking out of the top of it (also a shotgun is a short range weapon, not a long range one. what did they think he would run right up to the "tank" and open fire with a one round per shot hunting rifle.) I am sorry but this approach should not have been used unless this man was opening fire in every direction for no reason. The Manchester police do not know what they are doing when it comes to this type of operation. Just the other day I was walking by the police station and I see two officers on the sidewalk holding a fully automatic weapon and drooling over it like a new toy. This type of weapon should not be treated like a new toy, it should be treated with responsibility. The Manchester police department is embarassing to other SWAT teams around the nation. They do not have the right gear, do not know how to have the right gear and are like a bunch of highschool boys who just got a new sports car, give me a break. We need police to start getting back to what they were, that is people who can be approached with out being given an attitude that says, "I'm a cop, I'm better than you, and I do not have to talk to trash like you. This is the mentality of so many young officers that it is really truly sad. Grow up MPD and senior officers start taking notice if this type of behavior and stomp it out before it is too late.
- Jim, Manchester

Playing the blame game is not going to bring Missy back. The person to blame is not here to be held responsible. I would like to take the stance of Missy's own father, who talked about forgiveness and that he wants them BOTH back. Although I also want someone to blame that took my friend away, if her own family is willing to forgive, so should we.

I miss you Missy. Always will. Rest In Peace.
- A friend, Manchester

Lazarus, according to you if one calls the police, let's say , because an intruder is in their home, the police are not obligated to respond? Sounds like you're saying citizens are required to take the law into their own hands.
Where did you get your information?
- Larry, Manchester

So sad. Such a beautiful woman. I feel for the innocent children now left with no parents. I hope there will be some sort of fund set up for them.
- summer henderson, manchester NH

Joe and Melissa


Yesterday everyone wanted to know how this could happen and what is being done to prevent it from happening again.

The law enforcement agencies are reviewing what happened in hopes of preventing it from happening again and the UL is reporting that they are reviewing.
- Tam, Swanzey

If I learned one thing in my 17 yhears running a domestic violence shelter, it's that a victim is most vulnerable after she has taken a step to leave a violent spouse. That is when most of the truly violent attacks occur. Searching the abuser's house for weapons would provide some safety for the victim, but in this state, it wouldn't prevent the abuser from imediately going out and obtaining another weapon. We need to treat abusers as the criminals they are, and lock them up so that they can't escalate the abuse. Spouse abuse is a crime!
Sparky
Hampton
- Sparky, Hampton

one thing I don't understand is why, when a wife files a restraining order they can't include a permission form to search the house. She was a legal resident of the home so she could have given permission.

Obviously the husband was a real piece of work. Anyone that would beat & harm the mother of his children has very serious emotional issues. Most likely he had exhibited these issues before since domestic abuse isn't usually a one time thing.

The only possible good thing to come out of this is to maybe educate other young women in a similar situation that they should leave now before things get to out of hand.
- Dan, Bedford

The headline should read, "Beautiful Young Woman's Life Extinguished by Violent Thug." It wouldn't matter in the least, but it would give us all something else to focus upon rather than the actual point. The law enforcement agencies are taking the time to review the case. That is a good thing. The UL is taking the time to report this. That is a good thing. Would you rather they run a fluff piece about the decline of candy quantities doled out on Halloween? How tragic that would be? These deaths are unfortunate. Law enforcement is trying to figure out what happened and to adapt if necessary. Perhaps the best thing that could happen here would be for the establishment of a citizen's review board in Manchester. Holding the police accountable to the citizenry would be beneficial to both sides. Unless, of course, we don't hear about it because of some far fetched conspiratorial concepts and theories designed to discredit the free press which cause the editors to re-think their story choices. The UL is still a business which must make a profit. It can't all be about puppies, cute babies and the local teams. Laud those who voluntarily exercise the rights provided to them by the First Amendment and let the free press report it all. I'll sort out what I want to hear about, as should you.
- Simkin, Nashua

When a domestic violence petition is delivered by the deputy sheriff, the Manchester police department needs to be given a search warrant to look for guns by a judge.

The Sheriff department needs to let the Manchester Police Department know that it has delivered a domestic violence petition that mentions guns.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

Yeah Joe... the UL is involved in a conspiracy with the authorities in order to spark a controversy. Can't you find anything better to do with your time than to come up with such ridiculous theories?
- Brian, Concord

Hey Mike from Bedford....he is referring to the actual criminal act committed by Jonathan Charbonneau. He's deceases, so no charges will be filed. He is not referring to the police investigation.
- Jon, Manchester

Police have no legal duty to respond and prevent crime or protect the victim. There have been more than 10 various supreme and state court cases the individual has never won. Notably, the Supreme Court stated about the responsibility of police for the security of your family and loved ones is You, and only you, are responsible for your security and the security of your family and loved ones. That was the essence of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in the early 1980's when they ruled that the police do not have a duty to protect you as an individual, but to protect society as a whole.
- Lazarus, Manchester

so basically the law enforcement not doing there job as usual.we pay them to protect us but there to busy tring to catch the petty drug dealers out there.its time to pay attention to the real problem out there
- jake, manchester

This is such a tragic event. Do we really need to keep hearing about it?
- Stan, Merrimack

AG Strelzin is quoted,"no one will be prosecuted". Maybe so, but you can bet lawyers for the family will be slapping the city and the county with a multi fiqure civil lawsuit as soon as the law enforcement agencies conclude their "internal investigations"
- Mike, Bedford

Looks like it doesnt it Joe. They need to let the family just get over their losses instead of dragging everything through the mud..
- Melissa, Manchester

So basically there is nothing new to add in this story. The Union Leader is trying to create a controversy.
- Joe, Manchester