Richard Alonzo Gill, 45, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Theresa and José Gill while José was on duty with the US Navy there.

Richard, known as Rick to his family and friends, and his four older siblings lived with their parents in Navy housing and went to school in Hawaii until José was transferred to San Diego, California, when Rick was seven years old.

Rick did not have an easy time in school. He struggled with reading and was smaller than other children his age, who bullied and humiliated him. As a result, he developed a short fuse and got into many fights with classmates he thought were making fun of him. He spent many hours in the principal's office, and when José returned from sea duty and heard of his son's misbehavior, Rick got "the belt" as punishment.

Unsurprisingly, Rick hated school and couldn't wait to leave, which he did at 16. He wasn't afraid of hard work and especially enjoyed landscaping. He found a job with a man who mowed lawns and put in as many hours as the man could give him. While Rick had trouble with the written word, he had a good memory and quickly learned skills if someone clearly explained them to him.

He married 18-year-old Stella Flores in San Diego when he was 31. She was a runaway who told an understanding Rick that her father beat her. Rick had a steady job and some money saved, and he promised to take care of her. Their first child was born ten months later, followed by a second, third, and fourth at regular intervals.

Eleven years ago, Rick and his family left San Diego and moved to Oxford, Mississippi, when Rick was offered a job with a large landscaping service owned by one of his previous employers.

Rick adored his wife and children, but as the responsibilities accumulated, so did the stress. Rick began to drink, and as the drinking escalated, so did his temper.

Stella couldn't seem to do anything right. He began by yelling at her and the children and questioned her every move. She could go nowhere without him asking where she'd been and who she was with. He would answer her phone and tell her friends she wasn't available, even though she was in the next room. He eventually succeeded in completely cutting her off from her friends and family.

Stella became increasingly alarmed by Rick's extreme emotional highs and lows, and one day, he actually struck her. She contacted the Domestic Violence Project, which recommended several attorneys, including Robert Pruitt, who handled her divorce.

In court, when the judge rendered her decision in favor of Stella on all the divorce issues—the children's custody and support, the property division, and spousal support—Rick lost all control. He threatened the judge and lunged at Pruitt, causing the attorney to fall and injure his arm. Rick vowed to "get Pruitt" for ruining his life.