The mother of two who was killed with her children last week tried unsuccessfully to have her apartment’s locks changed after getting a restraining order against her husband, according to her employer.

The woman’s husband, Eugenio Severino, 54, hanged himself in a wooded area not far from the Penns Grove Gardens apartment unit where his wife, Ruth Reyes Severino, 30, and children, ages 5 and 2, were found stabbed to death Wednesday.

Authorities continue to investigate the deaths, and have not officially labeled the case what relatives believe: that Severino killed his family and then took his own life.

Johnny Solano, who described himself as a distant cousin of Severino, employed the man at a truck wash in a nearby truck stop and his wife at an eatery in the same facility.

After Severino allegedly threatened to kill his wife, she obtained a temporary restraining order Jan. 12 and a permanent restraining order Jan. 16, meaning he could no longer live at the apartment.

Reyes feared for her safety, Solano said, and requested that the apartment operators change her door locks.

“She knew he had a set of keys,” Solano said Monday.

Reyes was told she needed to provide paperwork about the restraining order to the apartment office, Solano said, and she followed through with that request, but “they never changed the locks.”

An official with the apartment complex owner said she could not comment on the claim, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

“We’re working with the authorities right now to try and help them with their investigation,” said Nancy Reno, vice president of marketing and training with Massachusetts-based Housing Management Resources, Inc. “We’re working hand-in-hand with the Penns Grove Police Department on the entire tragedy.”

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Reyes told Solano that she had seen her husband’s car in the apartment complex parking lot, but she didn’t report him to police because she feared getting him arrested would only make the situation worse.

Severino also called her in an effort to get her to drop the restraining order, but she refused, saying she no longer felt safe around him, Solano said.

“He contacted her several times … she told me several times that she could see his car in the apartment near her house.”

She came home from work afraid and would check each room and closet to make sure he wasn’t there, Solano said.

“I told her several times to call the police,” he said. “She didn’t want to call the police and make things even worse for her.”

No one thought Severino would actually follow through on his threats, Solano said.

He called his kids “my two little angels,” Solano recalled. “I know that he loved those two little kids. He never said anything bad about those kids.”

While Reyes worked as a server at La Cuchara restaurant, she allowed the children to visit with their dad, who worked just across the parking lot at the truck wash.

After Severino was kicked out of the apartment, he lived with Solano for about a week, but then ended up sleeping in his car, Solano said.

“He changed,” Solano said. “He was a totally different person. The restraining order was killing him.”

Severino then went to visit his adult son in Jersey City last week and apparently returned to Penns Grove Tuesday night.

Authorities have not yet revealed a timeline for the killings. After a resident found Severino’s body Wednesday morning in neighboring Carneys Point Township, police found the rest of the family in the apartment. Each suffered multiple stab wounds.

Since last week’s killings, Solano has been thinking about changes he would like to see made when it comes to how domestic violence cases are handled.

He feels phone calls of those under a restraining order should be monitored to ensure they are complying with restrictions. Their movements could be monitored by GPS, too, meaning it wouldn’t be up to the victim to report violations to police.

He also feels the men in these situations need some sort of support to ensure they don’t enter a downward spiral that ends in violence. If a man is displaced because of a restraining order, efforts should be made to make sure they have stable living arrangements. “Have a place where they can stay,” Solano said.

Reyes’ family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help bring the mother and her children home to the Dominican Republic for burial. Severino’s family is handling his funeral arrangements.

Severino, who lived in North Jersey before moving to Penns Grove, met Reyes in the Dominican Republic.

Ruth Reyes is shown with her children in this photo provided by a family member.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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