Ex-wife of Fulton murder suspect says she’s ‘not surprised’ by charges against him
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The ex-wife of double-murder suspect JT McLean said Tuesday that she was not surprised to hear about the charges against him, and her new husband says McLean has threatened him in the past.
Boone County prosecutors charged JT McLean with two counts of first-degree murder Wednesday in the deaths of his girlfriend, Allison Abitz, 43, and her daughter, Jozee Abitz, 11, the Boone County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The sheriff's office said McLean was the last person to see them alive but released no other details about the investigation.
McLean's ex-wife spoke to ABC 17 News over the phone. She said she has been in hiding since she heard of the deaths of Allison and Jozee Abitz.
McLean's ex-wife said she is still in shock. ABC 17 News is not using her name to protect her identity.
"I'm not surprised he responded in such a way but at the same time I'm in shock," she said.
Her new husband, Jeff Armistead, said an event like this was not out of JT's character.
"No, it's not out of his character. I've dealt with him for the entire relationship ... now we've been in and out of court for the past for years," Armistead said.
Armistead and his wife both said JT had threatened him in the past.
"Yeah, he's threatened to stab me in the face before and threatened to break every finger I had," Armistead said.
Armistead said people should avoid coming in contact with McLean if possible.
"He's not very nice and don't try to start a conversation with him or be friends with him because he does not want to be friends with anybody," Armistead said.
Neighbors outside McLean Fulton's address told ABC 17 News that law enforcement was there for hours yelling for someone to come out of the home. Authorities broke in but no one was there, neighbors said, adding that they've seen McLean driving a black sports car.
The house, where McLean lived with his brother, has been listed for sale for about two to three months, the neighbors said, and they've seen McLean driving a black sports car. ABC 17 News has tried to contact McLean and his brother and left a message for the brother.
Court records show two orders of protection have been taken out against McLean since 2017. He is currently on probation for violating one of them.
The sheriff's office says McLean has not been arrested. His last known address was on County Road 355 in Fulton, but McLean is an over-the-road truck driver with ties to Las Vegas, Chicago, St. Peter, Minn., Columbia and Fulton, the sheriff's office said.
