RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WIS) -
There's no question 27-year-old Teacora Thomas took steps to protect herself after separating from Dexter Boulware five months ago.
"She purchased pepper spray, a stun gun, she obtained an order of protection, she changed the locks on her home," said Capt. Lancey Weeks with the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
According to incident reports, on September 4th Boulware turned the pepper spray Thomas bought against her. She didn't press charges then but did on the 10th in another incident in a home on Thornfield Road. Boulware beat and kicked her in the face, sending her to the hospital.
If the incident report is from September 10th, why did it take so long to find Dexter Boulware and arrest him?
"We actively looked for him, but you're talking about a person who's very familiar with the criminal justice system," said Capt. Weeks. "He's been arrested before. He fled the scene. We actively looked for him and we did not locate him until the 26th when he was arrested."
But Boulware was released on a $5,000 bond, despite the fact that within six days, both Richland County Sheriff's deputies and Columbia Police responded to incidents.
"If he's not been arrested, if it's just an incident report, a judge may or may not be aware of that," said Weeks. "A judge certainly has access to his criminal record. In his criminal record he was arrested in May of 2001, convicted of a domestic violence in Florence County."
Boulware was arrested twice in two months in 2001, but because it's been more than 10 years, state law considers the offense on the 10th, another first offense, just a fine or 30 days in jail.
The threats Thomas received a day prior to her death should have sent Boulware back to jail.
Just the day before, Thomas received threatening text messages, which Weeks says is a violation of his bond.
"That would have been a violation of his bond. Not to mention she had an order of protection in place as well, she took measures to protect herself, unfortunately we weren't able to locate him until the next day after he murdered her."
"At the end of the day he is responsible for what happened to her," said Weeks. "She didn't ask for the abuse. She didn't ask for the threats. He's a deadbeat parent, he's a wife beater and he deserves to be in jail for the rest of his life."
Law enforcement says there are resources for domestic violence victims, bus tickets, food vouchers, and hotel rooms. But advocacy groups say unless the law is enforced in a rapid response, batterers may be emboldened to see how far they can take their abuse.
Funeral services for Thomas are this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. A memorial fund has been set up in her name at Wells Fargo Bank.
Click here to see the South Carolina law regarding domestic violence.
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Teacora Thomas (Source: Yvonne Thomas)
