TereseAnn Lynch-Moore received a protective order against her estranged husband October 26. Two weeks later, she was shot to death. Her estranged husband is accused of pulling the trigger on a gun he'd been ordered to surrender. It's one of the issues the Lynch family is expected to address Friday.
When Hon. Karen Romano granted TereseAnn Lynch-Moore a protective order last October, she order the respondent, Randy Moore to deliver all firearms to the Polk County Sheriff or the Des Moines Police Department.
Neither law enforcement agency received any weapons from Moore, nor did they go into his home to get them.
"That would take a search warrant or another order that listed the power we would have to take something like that from someone's home," says Deputy Jana Rooker.
According to Deputy Rooker, Polk County Deputies serve about 30 protective orders a week. She say few require the respondent to relinquish their weapons. When the order does, Deputy Rooker says Deputies ask for the weapons, but if the respondent denies having any, the Deputy's hands are tied.
"It seems clear what should be done and what the judge's intention is, however, getting them (the weapons) is based on voluntary movement by that person," says Deputy Rooker.
In a statement being released Friday, Lynch-Moore's family is expected to address what appears to be a loophole in the law. The new mother clearly wanted her estranged husband to stay away from her, but as is often the case, a piece of paper wasn't enough to protect her.
When Hon. Karen Romano granted TereseAnn Lynch-Moore a protective order last October, she order the respondent, Randy Moore to deliver all firearms to the Polk County Sheriff or the Des Moines Police Department.
Neither law enforcement agency received any weapons from Moore, nor did they go into his home to get them.
"That would take a search warrant or another order that listed the power we would have to take something like that from someone's home," says Deputy Jana Rooker.
According to Deputy Rooker, Polk County Deputies serve about 30 protective orders a week. She say few require the respondent to relinquish their weapons. When the order does, Deputy Rooker says Deputies ask for the weapons, but if the respondent denies having any, the Deputy's hands are tied.
"It seems clear what should be done and what the judge's intention is, however, getting them (the weapons) is based on voluntary movement by that person," says Deputy Rooker.
In a statement being released Friday, Lynch-Moore's family is expected to address what appears to be a loophole in the law. The new mother clearly wanted her estranged husband to stay away from her, but as is often the case, a piece of paper wasn't enough to protect her.
