Xbox developer killed in murder-suicide

[Thrik]

[attachment=0]batten.jpg[/attachment]

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.

http://kotaku.com/5032443/xbox-develope ... er+suicide

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.

A very sad and pointless death, as with all murder-suicides. The news post has a video of her speaking at E3 about Banjo-Kazooie 3, just a couple of weeks ago.

[e-freak]

sad and pointless death of (as sarcastic as it sounds but not meant so) one another victim out of thousands a day

[-HP-]

I bet their console just gave the red ring of death while he was playing... (Sorry, couldn't help it! )

it's just like, I am so used of reading stories like this on a daily basis, I just can't find it shocking anymore!

Seriously, that's why I don't watch the news anymore, I'd rather watch a horror movie on dinner time than watch the news on TV.

[Thrik]

Yeah, it's no more shocking for me — I read about loads of such deaths every month. Although I still think murder-suicides in particular are lame because often they're done because of relationships and shit and there's no real reason for it. Murdering your wife/kids/etc... ffs.

I mainly posted this because obviously as a games industry girl and one that handles E3 events and such at that, someone here might have met her. A few people on another forum I visit certainly have.

[Minos]

That's very sad, she had a brilliant career ahead.

[madgernader]

":2bacmdh1]it's just like, I am so used of reading stories like this on a daily basis, I just can't find it shocking anymore!

Seriously, that's why I don't watch the news anymore, I'd rather watch a horror movie on dinner time than watch the news on TV.

Dude I know just what you mean, that's why I cant stand watching the news is its always so depressing...

More on topic, That really is awful, and I agree a lot of these murder suicides do seem really lame and selfish, just because one person cant take it they have to end it for someone who probably was managing just fine.

[Nysuatro]

":1495yir2]I bet their console just gave the red ring of death while he was playing... (Sorry, couldn't help it! )

it's just like, I am so used of reading stories like this on a daily basis, I just can't find it shocking anymore!

Seriously, that's why I don't watch the news anymore, I'd rather watch a horror movie on dinner time than watch the news on TV.

Exactly. The news is always depressing or just boring. Its better to follow the news that you want to know on the internet.

[Sentura]

":38dns1hd]I bet their console just gave the red ring of death while he was playing... (Sorry, couldn't help it! )

it's just like, I am so used of reading stories like this on a daily basis, I just can't find it shocking anymore!

Seriously, that's why I don't watch the news anymore, I'd rather watch a horror movie on dinner time than watch the news on TV.

Exactly. The news is always depressing or just boring. Its better to follow the news that you want to know on the internet.

yeah i stopped paying my tv license over a year ago when i realized this at first.

as for the death; i reckon in our time and day stalin's famous quote has gone beyond the statistics of massmurders, and has let even tragedies become statistic.

at least some of you should catch onto this.

[dux]

A nice depressing start to my day I sure do despise 90% of my race. Bunch of idiots.

[Steppenwolf]

This sucks

I once knew a guy personaly who was stabbed to death by his gf's ex.

Thats the problem with love. People see their partners as their property.

[FrieChamp]

A lawyer from harvard who worked as a software engineer? That's two extensive careers in one and either a bad joke (gamer55 anyone?) or a huge waste.

[Thrik]

News article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/l ... de01m.html

It's pretty mental that she knew about the gun and his possible intentions a week earlier — he'd pointed it at her and then at his own head, threatening to kill himself. Yet seemingly she was unable to do anything within the confines of the law to stop what happened (other than getting a restraining order, which she did).

[Pericolos0]

This sucks

I once knew a guy personaly who was stabbed to death by his gf's ex.

Thats the problem with love. People see their partners as their property.

I also personally know someone who was shot in the gut by his girfriend's ex. He survived the thing though eventhough he has a huge scar on him now and misses a nipple. The ex was just waiting around the corner for him at his girfriends house, he shot himself in the head right after that. It's really horrible how much this kind of stuff happens

[Thrik]

Worst part is that all these victims did wrong was fall in love with a nice person hiding underlying mental instability. It could truly happen to anyone.

Someone posted this elsewhere earlier:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissabatten/

Adds to the creepiness factor somewhat. No matter who they are, seeing someone's internet shit as if they were still alive feels weird. She has all her birthday pictures and everything on the second page. The scumbag who killed her is in some of them smiling too.

[e-freak]

and that's what he presented her *sigh*