Xbox Developer Killed in Murder-Suicide

shadowforce420

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http://kotaku.com/5032443/xbox-developer-dead-in-murder+suicide

Very sad news from Redmond, Wash. Melissa Batten, 36, a software development engineer in Microsoft's Xbox division, was murdered by her estranged husband, who then shot himself to death, earlier this week.

Batten, a Harvard-educated lawyer, was a Software Development Engineer in Test for Microsoft, supporting Rare on its 360 titles work. She had worked for Microsoft since 2002, earning credits in Halo 3 and Gears of War as an SDET. Earlier, as a lawyer, she had been a public defender for the Mecklenburg County (Charlotte, N.C.) Public Defender's Office.

Her husband, Joseph Batten, was also 36. He had also worked for Microsoft but most recently worked for Wizards of the Coast, publisher of hobby games such as Magic: the Gathering. Melissa had obtained a restraining order against her husband on July 21. Another news story describes Joseph Batten as obsessive and verbally abusive, and when she learned he had obtained a handgun, she sought the protection order.
 
Very sad. :(

My heart goes out to her family. It's too bad the man took the cowards way out and can't face justice.
 
This is a terrible news, and it happened to someone who is still young and has a long career ahead of her. I feel bad for her family.
 
dang, that sucks. very sad
 
:csad:

I remember reading a small article about her. She had a great, long career in front of her. May she rest in peace.
 
This is terrible. It sucks that a restraining order really didnt mean much in that situation. There has to be better ways than that.
 
I get pissed when I read about murder suicides. If you want to kill yourself just do it. Don't go off killing anyone because you want to die.
 
It needs to be said...How long till some crusader like Jack Thompson jumps on this and says that there work is what drove the guy to do it?
 

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