Paul Carasi and girlfriend Sonia Salinas had a child together. They later broke up. Sonia obtained a child support judgment against Carasi. Carasi complained repeatedly to co-workers that the child support judgment was ruining him financially. He said that he was debt-ridden and would have to file for bankruptcy. He expressed anger toward Salinas for both the child support judgment and what he perceived as her efforts to keep his son Michael away from him. He repeatedly said that he wished she was dead.
Meanwhile, Carasi had a falling out with his mother, Doris. Doris and Salinas became quite close, while Doris and Carasi became increasingly estranged.
