WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and RadioAccused murderer no stranger to run-ins with law enforcement

Accused murderer no stranger to run-ins with law enforcement

LAGRANGE, MO (WGEM) -- The motive behind Tuesday's brutal murder in LaGrange is still unknown. But this wasn't Christopher Piersee's first run in with the law.

According to reports, the Piersee family only lived in La Grange for about a year. But police say in the short time period they responded to at least one report of a domestic violence disturbance at their home on Main Street.

The barricades that blocked Maine Street are gone, but police tape still hangs around the Piersee family home in LaGrange, where the bodies of 21 year-old Patricia and 6 month old Landon were found early Tuesday morning.

24-year-old Christopher Piersee was formally charged with two counts of murder today for the death of his wife and young son.

According to police, Piersee shot his wife Patricia and beat their 6-month-old son, Landon to death in their La Grange home yesterday morning.

While police search for answers, some signs of what might have happened inside the home are visible from the outside.

The words "Stay Out" and "911", partially reversed, appear to be written in red on one window.

And while neighbors said they didn't know the family, they all said they suspected something was wrong.

"My wife, she said their is just something alarming and I couldn't put my finger on it," Donald Sherwood said.

Sherwood lives and works just a few doors down from the Piersee family home.

He says it wasn't uncommon to hear fights or see police at the house, even before Tuesday's brutal murder.

"I have seen the police officers there and I assumed that it must have been from domestic violence of some nature because sometimes they were pretty loud."

Police aren't speculating on the motive for murder, but victim advocates say it's not uncommon for domestic violence to escalate.

"Generally it's going to start out, the majority of domestic violence situations are going to start at kind of a low level, there might be a little picking here or there, there might be some verbal abuse here or there, then generally they're going to escalate as time goes on," says Jerry Gille with Quanada in Quincy. 

Gille says each case is different but no matter the situation, help is available through Quanada and other agencies, for those who want or need it.

Victim advocates say there is no one set of signs when it comes to domestic abuse but there are some red flags to watch for.

• The abuser often humilates or dominates their victim by not acknowledging their opnions or making them feel powerless.
• They might isolate them from their friends or family.
• Signs of physical abuse like unexplained bruises or injuries might also be noticable.

Below are links to area agencies that provide help for domestic abuse victims.

http://www.quanada.org/

http://www.avenueshelp.com/

Tri-State Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse
PO Box 494
Keokuk, IA 52632-0494
Office: 319-524-8520
Fax: 319-524-0601
Crisis Line: 800-498-5095
tsc@iowatelecom.net
Service Area: Lee County, Iowa, Clarke County, MO, Hancock County, Illinois