Xbox 360 Developer Melissa Batten Dead in Murder-Suicide

Batten was a Harvard-educated lawyer and Software Development Engineer in Test for Microsoft, supporting Rare on their Xbox 360 titles in the works. Working for Microsoft since 2002, she has earned credits in games such as Halo 3 and Gears of War 2 as an SDET. When she was a lawyer, she had been a public defender for the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office.

Joseph Batten, the husband who murdered her, was also 36 years old, who worked for Microsoft and also Wizards of the Coast. On July 21st, Melissa obtained a restraining order against him, as he was described as obsessive and verbally abusive. She sought the protection order when she learned he obtained a hand gun.

Below, you’ll see a video of Melissa only a few weeks ago at E3 2008. May she rest in peace. [Kotaku]