BOISE, Idaho — A well-liked Twin Falls bartender found dead in a home with one of her five children and her longtime boyfriend recently obtained an order of protection against the man, who police say likely killed the mother and daughter and then himself.
Police have released few details but say George Salinas, 36, likely killed LeAnn Schuldies, 38, and her 17-year-old daughter, Brianna Cox, before ending his life. Their bodies were found Saturday in a Twin Falls County home.
Sheriff’s department spokeswoman Lori Stewart said she couldn’t comment on the causes of death but noted autopsies were planned.
Schuldies’ four surviving children are staying with family, she said. Stewart said Salinas was not Cox’s father, but she declined to identify the father of the other four children, ages 6, 7, 9 and 13.
County court records show that on Nov. 5, Schuldies obtained a two-week “no-contact” order against Salinas for herself and her children. On Nov. 12, she got a second order against him that extended past a court hearing planned for Friday.
“She was trying to get out of that relationship and move on with her life with her kids,” said her co-worker and friend Hannah Zamora, a manager at restaurant and bar Elevation 486. “Obviously, it was just paper to him. It wasn’t anything that stopped him. It didn’t seem like she had the help that she needed.”
Zamora said she knew Schuldies for six years and, six months ago, helped her land a job at Elevation 486, where she worked as a bartender and where at least one other company tried to hire her away.
“Everybody loved her,” Zamora said. “She was very warmhearted. She never showed what was going on in her life. She was always happy and smiling, always thinking of others.”
But Zamora said Schuldies did share some of her problems — including her plans to end her relationship with Salinas — with a select few.
“She was tired of everything,” Zamora said. “So she stood up for herself and her kids.”
Elevation 486 closed for the day Saturday after workers learned of Schuldies’ death. Employees since have created a link on the restaurant’s Facebook page for those wishing to make a donation for Schuldies’ surviving children.
The restaurant overlooks the Snake River Canyon, a view Schuldies enjoyed, even during a snowstorm.
“On Friday I remember her saying, ‘Hannah, turn around and look at the snowflakes,”’ Zamora said.
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