By Sandy Hodson
The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.
HEPHZIBAH, Ga. — Fredrick Hadden had been out of prison just days when he started threatening his ex-wife, her son told a 911 dispatcher Saturday, the day Hadden kidnapped his ex-wife and died in a shootout with a sheriff deputy.
Burke County Sheriff Deputy Eric Madison killed Hadden, 45, after Hadden fired at the officer and his former wife who was trying to escape him. Earlier in the afternoon, according to a witness and the victim’s sons, Hadden kidnapped her at gunpoint from her Hephzibah home.
“Hadden fired two shots at the victim, striking her both times, and undoubtedly would have continued to shoot her but for the heroic actions of (Madison),” District Attorney Natalie Paine wrote to Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams, informing him she had cleared Madison for duty, finding the shooting “absolutely” justified. The woman is in stable condition at AU Medical Center
Saturday’s incident was Hadden’s last act of domestic violence, but it wasn’t his first.
Hadden finished his prison term – served without parole – July 2. He served five years for two counts of felony family violence battery, cruelty to children, theft and trespass. Hadden had an additional eight years of probation. But a week after his release from prison, Hadden was threatening his former wife.
Any contact with her could have been a violation of Hadden’s probation. The judge ordered no contact with the woman when Hadden was sentenced.
On June 22, 2014, Hadden attacked his ex-wife in her home. His punches left her with a black eye and bruises,, and after knocking her down, he continued to punch her before dragging her by the hair into the kitchen. He also bit his 18-year-old son during the assault, all of which took place in front of his 12-year-old son. He was arrested July 3, 2014.
She had divorced him five years earlier in 2009. According to court records, Hadden repeatedly failed to pay child support before and after the divorce was finalized.
Hadden was charged with family violence battery in May 2003 in Richmond County for allegedly choking her. The Richmond County State Court case is still open.
According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Hadden had been in and out of prison since 1993. He had prior felony convictions for family violence battery, terroristic threats and three counts of obstruction of a law enforcement officer in Burke County. He was charged with attempted aggravated assault, terroristic threats and obstruction of an officer in Putnam County in 1996.
©2019 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.)