Passaro's Ex-Wife Tells Story Of Infidelity, Abuse

the first civilian to face criminal charges related to U.S. treatment of prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq

, spoke to WRAL about their rocky marriage.

"He makes you feel like you're the only one in the world and that you can trust him and that no matter what he says, it's true," Kerry Passaro said of her now ex-husband.

The Passaros got married in 1988. Twelve years later, they got divorced. Kerry Passaro said David cheated on her and also abused her and her two children from another marriage.

"It was physical and emotional," she said.

The couple moved often while they were married. Kerry said David jumped from one job to the next.

He was a police officer in Hartford, Conn., in 1990. He reportedly was fired less than six months into the job when he was arrested by the Connecticut State Police. There is no record of what the charges were, although Kerry said it was because he beat somebody up.

Eventually, David joined the Army. According to Kerry, he was an Army Ranger and a Special Forces soldier.

Years later, he became an independent contractor. The couple got divorced, and David moved to Harnett County.

David Passaro lived outside Lillington, along a dirt road in a quiet neighborhood.

"I thought he was a real nice guy," his neighbor, Diana Chrostowski, said. "He was real pleasurable to speak to."

David was arrested Thursday on post at Fort Bragg. Neighbors said they could not believe his arrest on two charges of assault and assault with a deadly weapon.

"I would have never dreamed anything like this," Chrostowski said. "Never."

Kerry Passaro said she could believe it.

"I wasn't surprised," she said. "He's a very violent person. He's a very violent person.

"I really feel like justice has finally come about. He got what he deserved."