Slaying victim twice threatened his wife, court documents show
On at least two occasions in 2000, Joanna Bobish claimed her husband, Larry Bobish Sr., physically abused and threatened to kill her, listing the incidents in a request for an emergency Protection from Abuse order filed in Fayette County Court. The bodies of both Bobishes and their daughter, Krystal, were found in their burned out home on Kennedy Street Extension off Coolspring Street in North Union Township early Sunday morning.
Police are investigating their deaths as homicides, noting a gun or guns were involved in their deaths. Their son, Larry Bobish Jr., was found outside the home and is being treated at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Autopsies were conducted on the Bobishes Monday but results weren’t expected to be released until today. Police said they had hoped to confirm the identities of the bodies found in the home but said they had no reason to think they weren’t the Bobishes.
Mrs. Bobish filed for the PFA on Nov. 17, 2000, the day after her husband allegedly hit her with an axe handle club after accusing her of cheating on him. She claimed the assault began in the basement and then progressed to the living room, where Larry Bobish reportedly cornered her and threatened to kill her.
In an August 2000 incident, Joanna Bobish wrote that her husband restrained her in their home because he was afraid she was going to leave him. That incident, wrote Bobish, left her with bruises on her arms and legs.
Bobish also included that in other instances, her husband, “has pulled out a gun and threatened my life and discharged the gun at me and my son.”
Court papers filed in the PFA proceeding list Larry Bobish Jr.’s age as 11 in November 2000 and Krystal Bobish’s age as 16 at that time.
Based on the temporary request Joanna Bobish filed, Judge Ralph C. Warman granted a final PFA. It initially included that Larry Bobish was excluded from the couple’s residence, and Joanna Bobish was granted primary custody of their children. However, a December 2000 modification left only the provision that Larry Bobish was not permitted to abuse his wife.
A check of Clerk of Courts Janice Snyder’s office revealed that Larry Bobish Sr. had three criminal actions brought against him: two in 1978 and one in 2000. Details on the 1978 actions were unavailable. The 2000 action was a citation for a curfew ordinance violation regarding the Bobish children.
Joanne Bobish had one criminal action, a disorderly conduct citation filed in 1998. Records indicate, however, that the citation was withdrawn in 2000.