Three days after Christmas and two days before the end of his military career, he was at his apartment in Lumberton when he decided to write Melinda a letter.
What he kept saying was, 'Guys I know are probably going to come after me,' which I didn't really believe.
For weeks he had been tracking Marines United, watching as the group, which had been organized as a suicide-prevention and support network for veterans, was transformed into a forum for revenge porn.
He was working at his kitchen counter on February 16 when he saw the photo McDonel posted of Judy.