Mom, spouses created a rocky home life
By Brian Newsome , The Gazette
Published January 30, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
The children of Maria Joseph appear to have endured a troubled home life even before being horribly burned in a fire allegedly started by their mother.
Simeon Joseph Jr., father of the youngest three children, killed himself in the family's home in October. Court records show his relationship with Maria Joseph was sometimes troubled.
In June 2002, he was arrested on suspicion of assault, harassment and wiretapping after the two had a fight.
The charges were dropped and a restraining order canceled. Court records show he had earlier arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia and assault.
He wasn't the first father figure in the family with a criminal record that included domestic violence.
Maria Joseph married Gregory L. Gardner in 1999; the couple separated "about April 2000," according to records. Gardner is listed as the father of the two oldest children.
Records show the couple separated the same month Gardner pleaded guilty to assault in a domestic violence case. A restraining order was issued against him.
The Colorado Department of Human Services acknowledged it was involved with the family within the past five years and would conduct a child fatality review.
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Suggest removal
cas writes:
I would first like to something about people commenting about the mother being on welfare.I know for a fact that she was not on welfare.Her husband made it work for her to stay home and take care of the children. And it shouldn't matter to anyone why thye father isn't here, he had noyhing to do with what happened.And please believe that i'm not sticking up for the mother.Her family and mine where a big part of each others lives until that night and she wasn't alone she had alot of support. There is no excuse for what happened that night.Alot of peoples lives have changed due to the horrible acts of of one person.