Jail records show Timothy Howell violated protective orders multiple times when he allegedly broke into his son's Bedford County home and killed his son's mother-in-law on Monday, October 15, 2018.
Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney Bethany Harrison says protective orders protect a person from any act or threat of violence by someone and can be enacted immediately.
In Howell's case, court records show he assaulted his son's mother-in-law, Elizabeth Wilson on August 20, 2018.
The same day, that jail record shows he was booked for violations of the protective order with a gun and showing a gun.
According to the Bedford Commonwealth Attorney's Office, Howell was denied bond but appealed and got $10,000 secured bond.
Court records show a violation of the protective order happened in September and was a misdemeanor charge with bond denied.
He was supposed to go to trial next month in Bedford Circuit Court.
Get the full story from ABC-13 WSET.