Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

As Joseph Palcyznski neared the violent end he had predicted, two women loomed largest in his life: the one he asked to marry him and the one who gave him birth.

Tracy Whitehead was 20 when she met the man she knew as "Joby." She was older than his previous girlfriends, and their relationship would last the longest, 18 months. By the time his violent jealousy finally drove her away, Tracy had suffered his abuse but had not forgotten his generosity. Joby was the one who helped her find a better life, Joby was the one who believed in her.

And Pat Long was the one who believed in him.

Before Joby met Tracy, his mother often packed his lunch and left it in his mailbox. She helped him buy the flashy cars, Jet Skis, designer label clothes - "the finer things"- that attracted people to him. And when trouble started, as it often did, she tried her best to make things right between her son and his girlfriends.

Whoever Joseph loves, I love, she would say.

More than anyone, Pat knew her son's moods. When his yelling and belittling progressed to a slap or a punch, her instinct was to defend him. Over the years, he had been convicted three times for beating teen-age girlfriends. Pat blamed the behavior on mental illness. Joseph was "bipolar," she'd say - but something had to trigger him. A girl's half-serious kick, throwing a pillow at him - even little things could "make them kind of people snap."

Tracy knew Joby had mental problems. She knew he had gone to jail for assault. But she believed him when he said he would never hurt her.

And she believed him when he said he would never hurt her again.

When Tracy finally left him last March, Joby's pursuit of her triggered a rampage in which he killed four people and took her family hostage. His life would reach the tragic ending he had long predicted - and that his mother had spent years trying to prevent.

The day her son was arrested for beating his girlfriend, Pat Long had begged Tracy to change her story and warned police: If you charge him, you're going to read about him in the paper!

Both women knew Joe Palcyznski's temper was explosive. They knew he would do almost anything to stay out of jail. And they knew how much he hated to be alone.

But one had to leave him.

The other would never let go.