There is few more contentious situations than a heated divorce battle, particularly is there is a history of abuse.  One party often knows he or she needs to leave the situation, but will be put in a dangerous situation once papers are filed.  And, sometimes the worst of nightmares can quickly become reality.  On Wednesday, Norman, Oklahoma, attorney, 47 year old Bryan Young, and the client he was representing in a divorce, Cayann Patterson, 49, were shot and killed.  Young had first been a jockey for nine years, then a teacher and high school principal before pursuing law at Oklahoma City University.  He had worked at Normal North High School for 17 years, with the last five of his tenure as principal, and was beloved by the staff and students.  Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano said of his former co-worker, “Bryan was a respected colleague and friend and he will be remembered as a ferocious advocate for students. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and the many people in our community who knew him.”

Image Courtesy of The Norman Transcript

Patterson, who leaves behind several children, had received personal protection orders against her soon-to-be-ex prior to the incident, reporting Deffner hit her in the chest with a Taser gun at one point, then held her up against a wall with his hands around her throat. She also claimed Deffner would hide guns around the couple's house, even in their daughter's room.  In the petition, Deffner admitted to owning firearms, claiming the guns belonged to his mother.  It is unclear whether he was ever asked to surrender them. Deffner had had other run ins with the law prior to the divorce battle, as well.  An arrest warrant had been issued on February 7th for five counts of forgery, and he had two pending cases for committing malicious injury to property and leaving the scene of an accident.  Police officers first found Deffner's vehicle abandoned Wednesday morning in the Tecumseh area.  Just a few hours later, they caught up to him, surrounding the man in a field.  He shot himself before he could be taken into custody.

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Oklahoma lawyer and the woman he represented in a divorce are shot and killedMan killed estranged wife, attorney, then self