Howard Woman, 3 Children Mourned

The tensions in the marriage appeared to grow over time. One neighbor had said earlier that years of fighting apparently came to a head about two years ago with a visit by police. In August 2005, Pumphrey obtained a restraining order against Brockdorff, according to court records. She filed for divorce three months later, and during the proceedings she accused him of verbally abusing her and using drugs.

"Gail showed such strength and courage in leaving a bad situation," Pumphrey's sister, Debbie Goodman, wrote in a letter read aloud at yesterday's service.

"We will fight to ensure another family doesn't have to go through what we've gone through," Goodman wrote on behalf of her family. "The pain we feel is incapacitating."

The divorce, which became final Jan. 16, was marred by accusations of abuse and financial troubles, according to court records and people who knew them.

Pumphrey got primary custody of the children, but fighting between the couple about child support and visitation rights continued. They sold their house in Frederick for $775,000, but much of the proceeds probably went to pay off debts and to attorneys' fees, according to a lawyer who represented Brockdorff.

Pumphrey used some of the money from the sale to buy the house in Woodbine. Brockdorff rented a home in Frederick. But according to court records, he was in financial straits, owing tens of thousands of dollars to creditors.

This fall, she accused him of neglecting to pay child support. After Brockdorff did not appear at two court hearings, including one Nov. 16, a judge ordered that he be taken into custody and held on a $10,000 cash bond.

A week later, on Thanksgiving Day, he left to pick up his children for a 26-hour visit, starting at 2 p.m.

Police said Pumphrey arrived at Unity Park about 4:30 p.m. with the children to meet him. Brockdorff was there, too, in a stolen Nissan Altima and armed with a rifle.