Murder-suicide victim wrote of fights
in order of protection
By SARAH SUTSCHEK - ssutschek@nwherald.com
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| Valerie Tobias - vtobias@nwherald.com
Police tape surrounds the Huntley home of 33-year-old Jennifer Beaudion, whose body was discovered in the home by Huntley police Wednesday afternoon. Police also found the body of 39-year-old Huntley resident David J. Griner. Both died by gunshot wounds in what police are classifying as a murder-suicide by Griner. Beaudion had been granted an order of protection against Griner, her ex-boyfriend, which expired in early December. (Valerie Tobias ()) |
HUNTLEY – A woman who police said was shot by her ex-fiancé in a murder-suicide contacted police at least three times since an order of protection she took out against him expired in December.
Jennifer L. Beaudion was found in the entryway to the master bedroom of her home at 11021 Janice Drive on Wednesday afternoon. She had multiple gunshot wounds to the back of her body and likely was killed the night before, McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz said. Her ex-fiancé, 39-year-old David J. Griner, had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Lantz said.
“It appears that she was going down the hallway, possibly fleeing from [Griner] at the time,” Huntley Police Chief John Perkins said.
Huntley police responded to eight domestic-related calls between Beaudion and Griner in September. They had been in an on-and-off relationship for almost four years and had planned to marry in August, but it had been called off.
“The calls did seem to ratchet up over the months from verbal arguments to property damage,” Perkins said. “In late January and early February, there were some threats of violence from David toward Jennifer and her family.”
Perkins said that Griner had begun to exhibit unusual behavior, such as selling property well under value and contacting a relative to say he loved her.
“He probably did spend some time planning this,” Perkins said. “Maybe he was trying to take care of things before it was done.”
Beaudion requested and received an order of protection against Griner on Nov. 20. In court documents, she said he had put sugar in her car’s engine and water in her gas tank after finding out she was involved with another man. She said he also called her boss and sent “offensive” text messages to her peers and subordinates at work after he found out.
“I have called the police before because we got in a fight and I was scared,” she wrote in her request for an order of protection. “He has a bad history and says scary things. He is not right in the head. I am scared for me, my family and friends.”
The order of protection indicated that Beaudion received possession of the house, which she owned, and police were scheduled to stand by as Griner retrieved his possessions three days later. He also was to stay at least 200 feet away from her, her house and her work place in Lake Villa.
But the order expired Dec. 9, and Beaudion did not seek another one, Perkins said.
“It was a 14-day order of protection, and it would have been her responsibility to follow through with that and make it a permanent order of protection,” he said.
Huntley police were first called to Beaudion’s home about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday for a well-being check after Beaudion’s boss said she did not show up for work. When officers responded, the home was secure and there were no signs of foul play, Perkins said.
Police were contacted again about 1:15 p.m. by Beaudion’s sister-in-law, who said family members were unable to reach Beaudion. This time, police forced open a storm door and used a key provided by the sister-in-law to go inside, where they found both bodies and a .380-caliber handgun..
Griner’s car, a Hyundai Sante Fe, was found near the corner of Woodstock and Main streets, about five blocks away from the house.
Perkins said Huntley police plan in April to implement a new program to help curb domestic violence situations, which are the most frequent calls to the department. About 24 hours after every physical domestic violence situation, there will be a follow-up visit by an officer, he said.
“Oftentimes ... it’s a short-term commitment to resolving things,” Perkins said. “They fall back into the same habit with relationships. As unfortunate as it is, it’s a difficult cycle to break.”
• Reporter Jillian Duchnowski contributed to this report.
