Curtis Harris had a long history of abusing his estranged spouse Monica Thomas-Harris, but despite a report from the L.A. County Probation Dept. that the Defendant was "Unsuitable for Release" a Judge Tia Fisher, permitted the Defendant that had been sentenced to 16 months in prison to go home and take care of his personal affairs before he was due back in Court on January 24---Saturday morning, a Maid cleaning a motel room in Whittier found the bodies of Harris and his estranged wife Monica, shot to death.Katie Buckland, Executive Director of the California Womens Law Center said, "This is a classic cycle of intimate partner violence. To say the least, it was irresponsible for the Judge and particularly the Prosecutors to allow Curtis Harris to be released without bail for any reason."
On November 16, the Defendant abducted his estranged wife took her to a nearby Motel, handcuffed her to some furniture---subsequently released she did not report the incident to Police believing that Curtis, would never do this again but 2 days later, Curtis was back and this time he abducted Monica from her work place, bound her with duct tape and threatened her with a stun gun---escaping she this time reported both incidents to the Police.
Curtis Harris was arrested on December 19 and entered a plea of "No Contest" to a charge of firearm possession by a convicted felon on December 21 and released on his own personal recognizance on the condition that he have no contact with his estranged wife Monica.
On Friday, a bench warrant was issued for Curtis Harris, when Police discovered that he had violated the Court Order that he not have any contact with his estranged wife Monica---Upland Police said that Monica's daughter contacted them after she spoke with her Mother and heard screaming in the back ground, subsequent calls went to her voice mail.
Monica Harris leaves behind a daughter and a 4 year old Son---the system which was supposed to protect their Mother from a Batterer, failed her and now two children in Southern California are left without their Mother, who was attempting to do what was right, raising her children, working and going to church.
