Slain Children’s Mother Cited Fear of Abuse by Husband

To neighbors in the quiet cul-de-sac, David Dean Von Haden appeared to be the doting father--throwing softballs to his 4-year-old son, Cody, taking his 2-year-old daughter, Courtney, to the park, and swimming with both youngsters.

But in recently filed divorce papers, his estranged wife paints a far darker portrait of Von Haden, 35, who allegedly suffocated the couple’s two children late Thursday before shooting himself in the chest at the family’s Yorba Linda-area home.

“I fear for the well-being of my children and I cannot tolerate the psychological abuse,” Laurie Von Haden, 33, said in her Feb. 7 divorce petition, which asks for sole custody of the children.

According to her statement, David Von Haden called her a thief and a liar in front of the children, took her checkbooks and credit cards, and once disabled her car by removing a fuse.

David Von Haden was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of murder. He remained in critical condition Friday at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana.

Laurie Von Haden’s attorney said Friday that the couple had been working out custody and visitation arrangements. Initial reports that David Von Haden was distraught after losing custody of his two children in a court hearing were incorrect, said attorney Anthony L. Curiale.

“They were going to work out the arrangements between them, and then things started to break down,” said Curiale, who declined to be more specific and would not provide the name of David Von Haden’s attorney.

Laurie Von Haden, Curiale said, is “as well as can be expected.”

“You can imagine how she’s doing--I can’t describe it,” he said. “She’s in shock, in seclusion. . . . There’s been no past incidents of spousal or child abuse in the sense of physical violence. This was a complete shock to everyone.”