"Restraining orders aren't worth anything," said an emotional and discouraged Smith during an interview at the church crime scene. "How can we protect (the) thousands (of people) with them (restraining orders)? Bless her heart."

Although most officers would not speculate as to a possible motive for the slaying, Swenson told the Deseret Morning News that the divorce wasn't the only difficulty in the Ragsdale marriage. Swenson said David Ragsdale had a "history of domestic violence."

Neighbors said the couple seemed unhappy in the past, even before their separation just after Thanksgiving when she changed the locks.

"As soon as I heard that she had been shot, I couldn't help but think he's done something horrible, because of comments she's made about being unhappy," said neighbor Carolee Courter, 32, who's also going through a divorce. Courter said she and Kristy Ragsdale would talk about and confide in each other about their divorces.

"She was very resolved and relived (after the separation)," Courter said.

Other nearby neighbors described David Ragsdale as intellectual and impassive.

"He didn't seem like a violent person though," said neighbor Kevin Malone, 55. "He just kept to himself and worked a lot."

Swenson said David Ragsdale would be booked for investigation of aggravated murder, but he had not been booked into the Utah County Jail as of press time Sunday night.

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E-mail: jhancock@desnews.com; estuart@desnews.com