Journal describes domestic violence victim's abuse before she was killed by husband

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A violent relationship between a Seminole County woman and her estranged husband, which boiled over when he killed her and their family, was detailed in the victim’s journal.

The turbulent marriage erupted into a triple murder-suicide last month.

Henry Brown hid in Chericia Brown’s trunk at a Lake Mary Chili’s on April 17, stabbed her and ran her over with his car.

From there, he picked up their two children and drove to Central Florida Regional Hospital, where he shot at deputies and led them on a chase on Interstate 4, where he eventually shot and killed the children and himself.

Related story: 'I don't know what he's capable of doing,' victim of murder-suicide tells judge in January

Related story: Channel 9 speaks with domestic violence survivor in wake of murder suicide

Related story: 911 calls detail scene where man stabbed wife, hit her with car before killing children

Chericia’s diaries show that she struggled to break free of Brown’s grip on her life, and took every measure she could to separate herself from him after she discovered that he was having an affair.

Timeline: The history of Chericia and Henry's volatile relationship

The discovery sparked a violent chain of events that ended with the killings.

Chericia’s notes detail her escape plan and her anxiety about executing it.

She listed challenges about splitting up, such as child custody, finances and the long road to divorce.

Chericia estimated that the process could take nine months.

On Nov. 11, Chericia discovered a text on Brown’s phone that was from his mistress.

After she asked for a divorce, Henry’s behavior became erratic.

She jotted down eight phone numbers he called from.

On one occasion, he called 11 times in 17 minutes.

In one entry, she wrote that she was “scared to go to the car” and was “afraid he had a gun.”

In another entry, she jotted down bullet points of his violence, which included notes that said, “Pulled hair, a sock in my mouth,” and “Find someone to kill me.”

Days later, Chericia documented more abuse.

On Dec. 18, Chericia went to a friend’s house, but Brown found her there and started to threaten her, so she went home.

Chericia eventually filed an injunction and moved into a domestic violence shelter, but Brown had placed a GPS monitor on her car, which he used to stalk her on the night he killed her.

Cox Media Group