Exonerated. (Exercising the Right).

The marriage of Monica Jarvis of South Jordan, Utah, and husband Seferino Rodriguez was a stormy one. They had separated, and Jarvis, 42, was reportedly planning to seek a restraining order against Rodriguez, 50.

Shortly after midnight on October 14th, Rodriguez, residing in nearby West Jordan, paid a surprise visit to Jarvis at her South Jordan home. Their 17-year-old stepson (hers from an earlier marriage) was also there. As reported by Salt Lake City's Deseret News for October 19th, "The two were reportedly arguing about an impending divorce when Jarvis retreated to her bedroom, where she retrieved a [.357 caliber Magnum] revolver registered in her name." She fired at least two shots, striking Rodriguez twice. The son, who was elsewhere in the house, called 911 to report that he had heard three gunshots. Rodriguez was transported to a local hospital but died shortly thereafter.

Jarvis claimed that she had acted in self-defense, but authorities took her into custody and booked her into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of homicide. Four days later she was released, and all charges were dropped, after prosecutors ruled that the shooting was indeed a case of self-defense. As reported by the Deseret News, South Jordan Assistant Police Chief Dan Pearson said that "the shooting was deemed justifiable due to considerable evidence that showed Rodriguez had been threatening Jarvis with bodily harm and even death."