MEDFORD, Ore. — An Oregon woman whose husband is suspected of killing her and their four children knew going into the marriage that he was a convicted child molester, but she did not feel threatened by him, her brother said Thursday.
"It didn't faze her," Jesse Adams of Phoenix, Ariz., told reporters at a news conference. "As far as I'm concerned, he served his debt to society for that. It has no bearing on what happened now."
Police said they believe Jordan Adam Criado, 59, stabbed his wife, Tabasha Paige-Criado, 30, and their four young children Monday and set fire to their home.
Overcome by smoke inhalation, Criado has not regained consciousness since the fire and was in guarded but stable condition at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Police were waiting for him to recover before arresting him.
Adams said his family was "in chaos" trying to make sense of the slayings but were working on forgiving Criado and took comfort in the idea that God had taken Paige-Criado and her children to a better place.
"We knew she wanted a divorce," he added. "We knew Tabasha would work on her own time, her own pace. She obviously didn't see anything coming or felt threatened. At the end of the day, we have to trust in her decisions, the way she decided to handle things."
In 1990, Criado pleaded guilty in Sacramento County, Calif., to lewd and lascivious acts with three girls under 14 years old. He served about 11 years of a 20-year sentence.
Active in social networking, Paige-Criado made it clear on Facebook that she loved her children and no longer wanted to be with her husband. Just why they grew apart is not clear.
On May 20 she posted: "Lookin out, it looks charged! I keep tellin my roomie man thingy that if THIS IS the storm that wipes the world away, just remember when we're in heaven that our contract says, UNTIL DEATH DO US PART, and then get my freedom papers! :)"
On May 29 she posted: "He said: he wants to put the kids to bed early. Put candles and rose petals on the dining table. Wine and dine me then ravish me. I said: I want to take a piece of bread with nutella, peanut butter, raw eggs ,chilli, syrup, mustard and sriracha sauce and smear it on his face. :-))"
And on July 3 she posted: "I guess this might be why I'm a little afraid to get out there in the dating scene again. Not everyone will say something even if they know. Remember, even if you love someone, to wrap it up. No balloon (equals) no party!!! Don't be afraid to ask to see the stats if you want to get....closer. LOVE YOURSELF!!!!"
Estella Evans, a Medford hairdresser who has known Paige-Criado for three years, said she knew her friend wanted to leave Criado but did not know why.
"She mentioned that he had trapped her with those kids," Evans said. "It was a toxic relationship.
"She was the kind of girl who was really happy and saved face. I knew she was hurting."
Cherilyn Potts, of Louisville, Ky., said she knew Paige-Criado had problems and had a plan to leave her husband but didn't know why. They met on Facebook through Paige-Criado's cousin and would post music videos on Facebook and talk on the telephone to cheer each other up.
"When there is domestic violence, it is very easy for people to say you should have left," she said. "It's much more involved than that. It's not always that easy or simple as things seem."
Adams said he and other family members took comfort in the idea that God had taken his sister from a "wicked garden," and brought her and the children to a better place where they could flourish and be happy.
"And if you guys are listening up there, we love you Tabasha, Elijah, Isaac, Andrew and Aurora," he said. "May the rest of your days be in happiness in God."
Adams said he found guidance in the Bible for finding a way to forgive Criado.
"Ephesians 4:31, that said, 'Let all bitterness, wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all the malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving to one another, even as Christ God has forgiven us,'" he said.
The family said a candlelight vigil will be held Friday at 9 p.m. in Medford's Hawthorne Park.