New Britain, CT woman files restraining order 8 days before murder, allegedly by husband

A Connecticut mother of 3's restraining order, dated January 27,  paints a grim picture of events leading up to her February 4 death, allegedly by her husband. In it, 30 year old Dia Palafox made allegations against her husband on about a year, 32 year old Juan Palafox, saying that he threatened to kill her and take her kids to Mexico.

The victim's mother found her daughter on the floor of the younger couple's New Britain home. The children, 6, 5 and 2, werein the house but unaware of what had happened. The Connecticut Medical Examiner's Office ruled Dia Palafox's death a murder by multiple stab wounds.

The restraining order filed last week paints grim a picture of the couple's last month together, which, according to court documents, was colored by physical and verbal abuse.

"My husband was drinking. He punched me in the face. Took me by the hair and hit my head twice on the bathtub. He also grabbed scissors and threatened to kill me," Dia Palafox wrote of the incidents that unfolded on Jan. 16.

The abuse also was sexual, she writes. Juan Palafox "forced himself on me for sex. I said 'no' numerous times," Dia wrote of an attack on Jan. 1. "He said I'm his wife and it's not rape."

She also went to a friend's house more than once in January, in fear of her life. During one of those trips, Juan showed up yelling at her to "get out of the car or he will hurt me," Dia wrote. "The children witnessed this."

On the last date listed in court papers, Jan. 27, Dia describes coming home from work and being met with verbal accusations that she was having an affair. A friend she was speaking with over the phone called police.

Throughout their last few weeks together, Juan harassed Dia "on a daily basis," she wrote, "stating that he will take my kids to Mexico and I will never see them again."

Juan Palafox was pulled over in North Carolina for speeding, and is on his way to being extradited back to Connecticut. This was not the first time that he had been violent towards his victims. in 2002, his pregnant 23 year old girlfriend was threatened with a knife, though the records surrounding the case are sealed.
 
The Hartford Courant has more coverage about DV, including two women's experiences with teen dating violence.