I apologzie that the previous post is a run on paragraph. I move the post to Microsoft Word to spell check it due to the length. Apparently, pasting it back into the comments box removes the line spacing.

Men are likely abusers of women because of strength, frustration, and proximity. Woman are likely abusers of children because of strength, frustration, and proximity. When you are in a relationship where the other is stronger, trust must be built. Studies that attempt to prove who abuses more are problematic and of questionable value. Attempts to label groups or analyze emotional makeup or motivation are suspect. Do you remember the rampant sexual harassment of the past, followed by years of excessive false accusations? Do you see the ebb and flow of child abuse as ignored by DHS, then DHS over-reacts by tearing healthy families apart, only to ignore flagrant abuse again? Do you remember how men used to always get their kids in divorce cases because money talked, but the favoritism showed mothers in recent years has let them keep their children when they were the abusers and the man was not? Similarly, hate crimes are a path to controlling people's lives and a loss of freedom. Psychological definitions change over time. There is no definitive measure of what is happening in someone's mind, despite attempts in the DSM. A criminal act constitutes a definitive legal response. What is useful is to identify those criminal types that are likely to re-offend or will respond favorably to treatment. Analyze how correctional facility funds are allocated to shore up underfunded programs. Definitively remove dangers from society and not put them back in to circulation after a few years simple incarceration. Educate on healthy lifestyles, including self- esteem and improper methods of dealing with stress. Identify bullying, co-dependency, and the cycle of abuse. We have no idea whether Thomas Culp was a model husband over the years but in treatment for a chemical imbalance failed to take his medication or had a brain tumor that suddenly altered his behavior. We have no idea if she was the abuser and he was fed up. Or perhaps he was just a creep. IT IS LIKELY that he was a chronic abuser in an emotionally distraught marriage. Connie is showing classic dependencies, a very unhealthy situation indeed. With a surgery of this nature, they must have a psychiatrist assigned to her. I would believe that they are counseling her against rejoining with Thomas even if there were extenuating circumstances for his behavior. Recognize the complication of his involvement in Connie's life, mental anguish his appearance could cause, and his HIGH POTENTIAL FOR RECIDIVISM. In my roles as a military leader, teacher, youth pastor, and business manager, I have encountered all the referenced situations above. Those that state Connie and Thomas deserve each other are callous or naive. Those that label men or women do not recognize the potential for victimization. I pray that Thomas is not free to hurt anyone again anytime soon and that Connie moves on and starts a new life.

It's frightening to know that men like "Mitchell" and "Women *sigh*" are out there. Misogyny and ignorance.

7 years! Unbelieveable., and Unacceptable. I guess the courts only sentence people to life in prison or death if they actually complete the job. I guess if you botch the job, they don't take it seriously??? What a shame that someone has to die in order for justice to be served.

mitchell, please cite your referenced "hundreds" of scientific studies that show domestic violence is 50/50.

In truth, the men are the primary aggressor 85 - 90% of the time. I can teach you and others that are confused by the myths and mis-perceptions of domestic violence. It is truly a horrible plague on our society. Calling the truth the truth does not make you a man hater.

Check out my page at http://www.myspace.com/amanagainstdv.

I don't have to understand Connie in order to accept her forgiveness of her husband. I wish her the best even though I wouldn't wish ANY woman the abuse that generally follows. Abusers generally feel sorry, apologize, and continue to abuse. That is just the way it is. Very few truly change.

What irks me is that it was even POSSIBLE for him to only receive a 7 year sentence. The judge should be ashamed and so should the judicial system.

A couple of people die from swine flu and its all over the news and schools are closed. Thousands & thousands of women are seriously injured and killed each and every year. Very little is done about it. What a system we have.

All men should get more involved, learn more about domestic violence and do something about it, even if its only in your neighborhood. Womankind is owed our equal involvement!!! Men have been sitting on the sidelines for far too long.

Mitchell,

Perhaps you should focus on your own misogyny before accusing others of gender hatred. You have obviously assumed that MS. Culp did something that "drove" her husband to attempt murder suicide and that is an assumption that is just as misdirected as those you accuse others of. Millions of people suffer disappointment, depression, disdain and a myriad of other emotions and feelings in their relationships each and every day. MOST do not act on impulse and do something as dreadful as this man did. To do something so violent an despicable warrants him deserving of any criticism that others choose to express!

LF....I am gravely offended by your overt misandry. You have obviously got a big chip on your shoulder, but you have a severely skewed view of the world. I do not know a single man that fits the description you give. Your misandry is overshadowed only by your immeasurable ignorance regarding the realities of domestic violence, which, according to literally hundreds of scientific studies is known to be instigated and perpetrated almost 50/50 man to woman or woman to man. You should truly be ashamed to propagate such vile contemptable gender hatred. Men in America every day give all they have to give so that their loved ones can have a good life, and be happy, and comfortable, without regret. Men go to work every day whether they are sick or tired, not for themselves, but for the ones you claim they seek to own. And for the record, mothers abuse their children more than fathers, this is based in fact also.

"People who love you don't hurt you"

That cuts both ways. Obviously, she did something that hurt her husband terribly to cause him to feel it necessary to try and kill her and himself. He was not deemed insane, so it had to be situational distress, and it's root cause had to be her. What would make you want to kill your spouse and then die rather than live with the pain of it?? Think about it. I absolutely do not advocate any sort of violence in a relationship, but I think it very childish to pretend that our loved ones could not hurt us more than a stranger ever could. This man was obviously distraught beyond our ability to even comprehend. Ask yourself why. Husbands,, be nice to your wives, even when things go bad, wives, do the same for your husbands, remember, you loved them enough once to want to spend your life with them, respect one another.

I don't care what the circumstances were, if she takes him back she is crazy. No matter what caused it, he freakin SHOT HER IN THE FACE!! She needs to realize that it's better to be alone than with a lunatic!

I can not imagine the unthinkable physical and emotional PAIN this woman has endured since she was brutalized by the man who should have loved her more than he loved himself. I know there is a reason for everything but things like this are so very hard to understand. God allows things to happen, that I do believe. I pray that if anything so tragic ever happened to me that the Lord would go ahead and just take me to heaven. It would be so painful for your loved ones to go through such an experience and the thought of going on to heaven is much better than never being able to look into my beloved childrens' faces again. God bless you, Connie. The fact that you have forgiven this man speaks volumes about your beautiful character and heart. I just pray he never hurts you ever again. You deserve so much better, sweet lady--SO much better!

Yeah, details are scarce as to the events leading up to the Culp attempted murder/suicide. Maybe the couple had financial troubles, or perhaps there was a fidelity issue.

Whatever the case, why do people shoot others/themselves in the head when attempting homicide or suicide? Must be the hope for instantaneous and painless death.

Truth is, if you've made that psychological step over the line, best bet is a chest shot. You pulp your heart, you're pretty much guaranteed a quick exit.

A

I can't find out why he shot her in any story. Whatever she did must have been pretty bad if he tried to shoot himself. I'm pretty sure he regrets turning her into a blob monster more than anything, now that he knows she's waiting for him. That's the worst punishment ever.

I think too, that 7 years in jail is very little time for the crime. I also can't believe that Connie said she is "waiting for him." She can easily find somebody with a bigger heart than ego. Love can do weird things so I can't judge either one's motives. Although, I think that Connie would have never shot her husband in the face under any circumstances... It is just unfortunate that once you love somebody (family member or partner) you can't see how creepy they may be as people (I do watch Forensic Files every now and then). Good thing a donor was found, their family deals with the situation and Connie's life is better now. She seems like a lovely lady and only a disturbed mind would consider doing what her husband did to her. I hope he dies really old and feels guilty the entire time.

Unfortuately, I stumbled across these "comments" after reading an article about Mrs. Culp. Bloggers...instead of critism and gossip... turn the mirror on yourselves. Observations and critiques should be left to the professionals... not you.

Did this woman undergo any form of psychological screening prior to the transplant? I think it's wrong to spend millions of dollars on this when she's going to return to her husband upon his release from prison & give him a chance to destroy the transplant surgeon's work.

The history of this nation is that men used to "own" their wives and childrens much as a slave owner owned his slave. And he could do with them as he wished. Until Laws came into place to supposedly stop this. However it goes on and on. A man especially one with prestige and money usually gets away with it. Others like Mrs. Culp husband spend "a few" years in prison while she gets to live a life time with the injuries of that assault. Read about domestic violence and you will see that she is the portrayal of many victims who continue to "go back" despite the demeaning abuse - sometimes until they die at the hands of their husbands. Its a cycle and the abusers are so good at their manipulation the victim actually believes they are some how deserving of it. And yes the men believe they have the right to do it that they "own" that person. Abuse is abuse whether abusing a child or another adult.

I hope that Connie will find a life for herself without him! She could be a voice for so many women who are suffering! Read about domestic violence and the cycle of abuse.

Thomas Culp shouldn´t sentence 7 years but have death penalty trying to kill his wife, thank god she didn´t die but it was close and there is no doubt this mental disturb man deserve the maximum penalty and this Judge who gave him 7 years, I wondering where heck this Judge took Law education. Judge wake up would you give the same penalty if it was your daughter and your son in law who shot her..I dont think so judge!...

Oh, Tracy I mean, not Josey, sorry

Josey, among others, this could also be the case of a woman who never in her life approached self-actualization, who was long ago stunted, so that she cannot even grasp the immensity of the violation inflicted on her. No sight, no smell, no taste, the pain every day for so long, her appearance... to still find meaning in one who put you in such a place makes me think of a rudderless being- are you profound and sublime to find a measure of peace in anything, in the dullest, smallest, saddest, looniest and cruelest creature who could fire a gun right into the face of a woman he had made love to and lived with and had children by, or do you have the capacity for deep attachment (to the richness of life) and sense of self of a cork-- to renounce who you were and all the possibilities of that person and privilege loyalty to the one who took you over loyalty to your self, you dead, utterly victimized self? Well I don't know, I can't speak on this. It is best that she does not hate, the hate would be too awful; facing the doomed sham of having made a life with, to say the very least, a hick, who could shoot you in the face (one interpretation, mentally ill is another), could churn enough rage in some people to keep the violence going, finally unto death. If the mind doesn't have to go there, it should not, I would never wish it to, out the window with truth in this case, if the truth is really that abjectly uninspired.

He will shoot her again.

Connie is a strong and beautiful woman! May God bless her and her family

"That's what I read in another article. That she FORGAVE him AND that she said at the time that she would go back with him. "He was my first love." "

I think if I were her I would look at him as my only hope, as its the last person with whom to experience love and companionship. I couldnt imagine finding any other person who could love me with a face so disfigured. He is the one who has attachments and memories of the old face, the true face. and yes, people make mistakes. Maybe he regrets it terribly it eats him up inside. Maybe it's changing his mindset being in prison. I have faith in Connie, as she knew him best, it was her first love, they knew each other a long time, and if she has good feelings about it, let her do what she feels is right. I just could not imagine finding anyone else to love me in that physical state. But yes, her face will improve a lil bit more over time, but still, this man knew her well and may very well accept her back whole heartedly. We will see where things go in 2012.

What can I say? My heart is still heaving because I cried and cried reading her story and feeling the pains this sweet woman has been through. I am only writing here because I have this urge to reach out to her and give her some words of comfort. We should all hear her, when we cling and swell up and brag of beauty and materialism. It can all be taken away in a moment. Connie sweetheart, it's all going to be alright soon. May God bless you and all those sweet sweet doctors that toiled to make you look good and to the family that donated a new life to you, may God heal their heart from the loss of their lost one and may the unfolding of every new day bring unimaginable blessings and grace to them. Anybody that gets hold of her e-mail should send to me too please.

Tracy: "DO NOT Judge Her for choosing to take him back. There is a reason he did this and maybe he was mentally ill in some way - depressed or schizophrenic, etc.. Depending on the real circumstance's of HOW & WHY the event took place who can say what is unforgivable. UN-Conditional Love heals wounds. What if your child shot you due to them suffering a mental illness? Most people would be forgiving of them, and sometimes even welcome them back into their lives. I say "Follow Your Heart" and may GOD BLESS Her & Her Family!"

Are you nuts?

DO NOT Judge Her for choosing to take him back. There is a reason he did this and maybe he was mentally ill in some way - depressed or schizophrenic, etc.. Depending on the real circumstance's of HOW & WHY the event took place who can say what is unforgivable. UN-Conditional Love heals wounds. What if your child shot you due to them suffering a mental illness? Most people would be forgiving of them, and sometimes even welcome them back into their lives. I say "Follow Your Heart" and may GOD BLESS Her & Her Family!

wow, i actually felt bad enough for this lady that the thought of waiting for her husband's release to take him of this planet myself actually crossed my mind. But alas, you cant really be rightouse if the person he tried to kill has the IQ of a squirell. How stupid do you have to be to take a man back, that shot you in the face with a shotgun. And I think God agrees with me here.

That's what I read in another article. That she FORGAVE him AND that she said at the time that she would go back with him. "He was my first love."

UNBELIEVABLE!!!! And I thought Rhianna was stupid!

"Connie says her husband better put her on a pedestal once he's released from prison. "

-- please tell me this does not mean she's really going to go back to him??????

This woman, with her bravery has inspired me to write a story about her for my local newspaper. If anybody sees this and knows her I would love a reply with her email. thanks is appreciated. I do wish Connie luck.

i think its wonderful that this women was given another chance at life to live it to the fullest instead of having people gawk at her or make fun of her or run from her i can not imagine having to deal with something like this honestly. but i do not understand how she could even possibly think of taking the person back who shot her in the face he had all intentions of killing her and this was and is suppose to be someone who loves you people who love you dont hurt you.