Xbox Developer Dead in Murder-Suicide

[Da Ill One]

Very sad news from Redmond, Wash. Melissa Batten, 36, a software development engineer in Microsoft's Xbox division, was murdered by her estranged husband, who then shot himself to death, earlier this week.

Batten, a Harvard-educated lawyer, was a Software Development Engineer in Test for Microsoft, supporting Rare on its 360 titles work. She had worked for Microsoft since 2002, earning credits in Halo 3 and Gears of War as an SDET. Earlier, as a lawyer, she had been a public defender for the Mecklenburg County (Charlotte, N.C.) Public Defender's Office.

Her husband, Joseph Batten, was also 36. He had also worked for Microsoft but most recently worked for Wizards of the Coast, publisher of hobby games such as Magic: the Gathering. Melissa had obtained a restraining order against her husband on July 21. Another news story describes Joseph Batten as obsessive and verbally abusive, and when she learned he had obtained a handgun, she sought the protection order.

This is a video from Coin-Op TV showing Melissa at E3 discussing Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts:

Murder victim got emergency protection order | Local News | KING5.com | News for Seattle, Washington

[Bluewarwolf]

wow, that is sad.....

[dinkdude]

its a shame when these things happen . if ur gonna kill urself, why do u have to take someone else down with u.

[Reizo_PR]

It`s a sad and sick story.

[TwilightLink121]

Wow this story was very sad, this story is an example of how many creeps there are out there.

[Bluewarwolf]

Exactly. This stuff happens all the time.... anyone who watches wrestling would know this big time, as Chris Benoit did the same things, except he killed his wife, son and then himself. Still all very sad.

[Blan21]

Sounds like he had the RROD syndrome, u know when ur X-box gets it and u freak out? Sorry I'm just trying to lighten up the mood a bit, wow that's horrible. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and bring a sniper rifle and.... srry I got carried away. I hope that guy pays for what he did 1 way or another.

[wolven]

Originally Posted by Bluewarwolf

Exactly. This stuff happens all the time.... anyone who watches wrestling would know this big time, as Chris Benoit did the same things, except he killed his wife, son and then himself. Still all very sad.

I remember that...Though, they said all kinds of things about it, nothing can be for sure. They started saying things like, his wife died after Chris did, and a whole bunch of other stuff, it's weird.

Anyway, this is a really sad and messed up story. Why people do this, I really don't know.

[trevpimp]

Originally Posted by Bluewarwolf

Exactly. This stuff happens all the time.... anyone who watches wrestling would know this big time, as Chris Benoit did the same things, except he killed his wife, son and then himself. Still all very sad.

wait wtf!?!?! He killed his wife and son!?!?!?!

I thought he just killed himself!!

Wow and I thought he was a cool dude....

He was my second favorite wrestler back when I was watching Wrestling....

[Wired Cous]

Man this is just bad and sad. You should never kill someone....
Some people are just...well you know....