Timeline of a tragedy Unraveling the 4 VT slayings
More info on this homicidal maniac- and according to some- just a 'fine mother doing what fine mothers do'
Throughout her life, Herring had brushes with the law — in criminal court and in family court.
Her criminal record since 1994 shows 11 misdemeanor convictions.
In family court, records show Herring has been in legal battles involving custody of her three children, who each have different fathers, visitation rights, child support and more.
Her doctor wrote he believed that "Jody's chief medical problem restricting her employability is an underlying bipolar disorder," family court records show.
Dr. Kevin D. Crowley of Green Mountain Family Practice wrote in November 2010 that, despite his not being a psychiatrist but based on Herring's "numerous office visits, it is unlikely she would be able to hold a job for any length of time because of her emotional state and her resultant inability to stay focused."
Crowley indicated he was offering his presumed medical diagnosis to John Wirth, a staff attorney for the Office of Child Support.
Psychiatric intervention that amounted to "polypharmacy of treatment has only normalized things a little," Crowley wrote.
"Ms. Herring is a bright intelligent woman and I believe with time she will settle into gainful employment," the doctor wrote. "It will be a long time however."
Court records show Herring had other medical issues. After she was stopped on suspicion of drunken driving June 23 in Windham County, a court affidavit indicated she was "an intravenous heroin user." Her record includes a 2003 conviction for possession of heroin.
State Trooper Ryan Wood said Herring claimed she might suffer from multiple sclerosis but was awaiting test results. She also said she was on the attention-deficit-disorder drug Ritalin.
Herring pleaded not guilty to a charge of DUI second offense and is awaiting trial. Her first DUI conviction was in December 1998 in Caledonia County
Jody Herring previously diagnosed as bipolar - VTDigger
Court records show that Herring has been involved in custody proceedings involving all three of her daughters, now 23, 20, and 9, over the last two decades. Most recently, in July, she lost custody of her 9-year-old to a man she once accused of domestic abuse
Herring had felony charges dropped years before facing murder charges - VTDigger
She has failed to appear in court 10 times, and while she’s currently behind bars, she has a case pending for allegedly driving under the influence on her way from Berlin to Williamstown on June 23.
Herring’s first felony charge was for petit larceny in December 2001. She was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault in January 2003 in Washington County. She was then charged with a felony in May 2003 in Windsor County for possession of more than one gram of heroin.
Herring reached plea agreements in the most severe crimes she was accused of. In January 2002, she signed a plea agreement to have a felony petit larceny changed reduced to a misdemeanor version of the crime. She paid restitution to a jewelry store.
In April 2003, police stopped Herring and her brother on Interstate 91. They searched the car, then performed a cavity search. They discovered 42 baggies of heroin within her body, amounting to 1.26 grams of heroin. She failed to appear at her arraignment in June 2003, and the judge issued an arrest warrant to get her to court.
She entered treatment in May 2003, according to court documents, even though her domestic assault case was still pending. “Cousin called to say def. is in treatment (she can’t tell me where),” the documents say.
The judge then sent out a warrant for her arrest in June 2003. She was not arrested again until December 2004, according to court documents.
A month later, in January 2005, Herring signed a plea agreement to have her heroin charge reduced to a misdemeanor charge with six to 12 months of probation. She requested an out-of-state probation officer so she could live in Massachusetts, but she allegedly violated her probation.
Herring missed probation appointments several times between May 2005 and August 2005, according to court documents. The court put her on another six to 12 months of probation.
The domestic assault charge was still pending during the heroin case, but eventually was reduced to disorderly conduct, which is a misdemeanor. It remains unclear whether the domestic assault charge reduced to disorderly conduct would have prohibited her from owning a gun under federal law.
In 1998, Herring was disqualified by Judge Edward Cashman from owning a gun as part of a proceeding in family court.