Court records: Mom feared Ark. slayings suspect

Annette Whitlow received a temporary order, but it was cancelled after she failed to show up in court.

She and her husband, Bobby Whitlow, were found dead Saturday. Authorities say they expect the couple's son, 33-year-old Antonio Whitlow, to be charged with murder.

Whitlow was being held in lieu of $50,000 bond Monday in Tennessee, where he faces an assault charge in a May stabbing. He was arrested in Memphis late Saturday after being spotted with his 12-year-old sister. Police say she did not appear to have been harmed.

Annette Whitlow requested the protective order in 2009. Her son had been diagnosed two years earlier with paranoid schizophrenia and borderline intellectual functioning after he pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to an assault charge. He changed his plea after a psychologist determined he understood the proceedings, could help in his defense and was fit to stand trial.

Whitlow was sentenced to five years of probation that would have ended in October, according to court records. He also was ordered to take domestic violence classes, although it wasn't clear whether he did.

It also wasn't clear whether he sought or received mental health care.

Patrick Benca, his lawyer in that case didn't return phone calls Monday. He said Sunday that he hasn't had contact with Whitlow, who he described as not "an unlikeable guy."

Police and court records paint a much different picture, describing threats and violent incidents that happened over several years.

When Whitlow's mother filed for protection, she said her son pushed her on a bed, twisted her arm back and threatened to kill her.