LET THIS BE A WARNING!!!!

If the wife was abused as she says, then the bastard got what he had coming IMO. As a little boy (1973), I watched as my sperm donor (he doesn't rank being called "father") beat my mom on a regular basis and us kids just as often. There was once, when I was 6 years old, that I came in from playing about 2 minutes after dark (I was under instruction to be in before dark). This motherfucker puts me in the hospital by hitting me in the back of the knees with a 2x2 oak table leg. I WAS SIX!!!!
ANY man who hits a woman is a cowardly, gutless, wormy puke who doesn't deserve the protection of law. Years after my angel of a mom left this fuckhole bastard, after I graduated boot camp, I went home to Louisiana and looked him up. He "thought" that I wanted to renew our relationship. Much to his surprise, I knocked out 3 of his teeth and gave him a gash above his left eye that required 13 stitches. As I walked away from him I said (and I'll NEVER forget this) "That's for my mom, fuckbag!!"

One of the things I am most proud of in my life.

I'm just curious as to where in LA, if it's near me??

OH I live in NO east, I know that area.
glad you made it out from that situation and your mom too.