Traveling nurse or not, that home looked very nice, she had a nanny, and only worked 3-4 days a week? I would say even without a felon husband that her budget would be extremely tight. I am surprised she did not divorce him and try to get him to terminate his rights to his child by seeking no alimony or child support. She could get a new placement for her employment. Such a sad story. Now the baby boy has neither parent.
It wasn't a very upscale place. It's a glorified apartment complex. I went there several times. She wanted to work more than 3 or 4 days a week, but couldn't get more time. I was surprised to learn after her death that they were still married. She always acted like they were already divorced, and it was definitely her desire to have him sign over his rights, as she had mentioned that not long before the ex got out on parole. Feelings change though, and with her in the financial squeeze she was in, desperate times call for desperate measures. I had tried repeatedly to get her to talk to friends of mine in management at WakeMed, but she always resisted. Her ultimate goal was to go back to school and get an advanced degree (at Duke) and eventually teach.