Domestic violence offenders could be fit with GPS monitors

CASSELBERRY, Fla. — Investigators said the gunman who went after Casselberry salon employee Marcia Santiago had just gotten an injunction against him, but it did not stop him.

However, Eyewitness News found out more about a new program using GPS monitoring that could better protect domestic violence victims who file injunctions.

The goal of the GPS program is to save lives, even though it would not have prevented Thursday's deadly shooting at a salon in Casselberry.

Santiago was gunman's -- Bradford Baumet's -- ex-girlfriend. She accused him of hurting her and threatening to kill her and had gotten a temporary injunction against him.

The two were due in court two hours after the shooting so that a judge could decide whether to make the temporary injunction permanent or lift it.

WFTV asked domestic violence experts whether Baumet could have been held in custody after the temporary injunction was issued until their court hearing and was told it would have violated his rights.

"They're issuing that temp injunction based on an affidavit. You can't take away someone's liberty without due process," said defense attorney Robert Buonauro.

But as for permanent injunctions ordered by judges, Orange County is finalizing a plan to require some abusers to wear GPS monitors that would alert victims when the abusers get dangerously close.

The state-funded program could start within the next two months.

WFTV