Charges: Boyfriend's behavior 'directly contributed' to Minnesota mom's suicide

Charges were filed Friday against a Minnesota man for contributing to the death of his children's mother who committed suicide last December near Rochester.

According to the Olmsted County Attorney's Office, the couple from Stewartville, Minn. was together for nearly 11 years. During that time, Vang subjected 28-year-old Jessica Haban to "ever-increasing levels of domestic abuse" that was verbal, emotional, mental, and physical. On May 23, 2015, Vang's physical abuse resulted in a serious traumatic brain injury to Haban.

In August of 2015, a domestic abuse no-contact order (DANCO) was issued against Vang. He violated that order after it was revealed in November he was living with Haban "on and off" at her residence and corresponding with her daily.

"I believe Mr. Vang's conduct directly contributed to the death of his partner," Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem said. "Mr. Vang was clearly aware of the precarious state of his partner's emotions following her hospitalizations and he continued the relentless contacts until her death."

According to the criminal complaint, Haban's condition "deteriorated significantly in the months preceding her death." In a conversation with a social worker, she said she felt as though Vang had "killed her" and she was at a loss as to what to do; she was also afraid he would murder her.

Mayo Clinic records noted the victim continued to struggle with her traumatic brain injury symptoms shortly before her death. She exhibited signs of "confusion, disorganization, difficulty concentrating, headaches, dizziness, and nausea."

Vang made his first court appearance Monday on the charges.