Within two days of being released from jail for violating a protection-from-abuse order filed by his estranged wife, David Wise Sr. killed her and then himself, police said yesterday.

Family members checking on Latreea Polk, 24, Thursday found her dead in her Scott apartment. She had been shot in the head. She was pronounced dead at 9:53 p.m., the Allegheny County coroner's office said.

About 20 minutes later, Wise, 31, of Highland Park was found with a gunshot wound of the head in a car in the 7400 block of McClure Avenue. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian, where he was pronounced dead at 11:16 p.m.

Allegheny County homicide detectives at both scenes quickly learned that Wise was in Polk's car, and Wise's car was parked at Polk's apartment complex.

The Allegheny County coroner's office ruled that Polk was a homicide victim and Wise killed himself.

Court papers show the two had been estranged since Feb. 29, a day after Polk said Wise pushed her down steps and threatened to stab her and himself.

On the day of the incident, Polk sought a temporary protection-from-abuse order, which was later extended until September 2005. In her petition, Polk said Wise showed up at her workplace and a hotel where she was staying.

At a news conference yesterday, county police Superintendent Charles Moffatt noted that a PFA is merely a piece of paper and cannot, in and of itself, prevent violence.

"I really don't know what the answer is," Moffatt said.

Wise had violated the protection order three times. On April 10, Scott police arrested Wise for prowling and loitering near Polk's bedroom window in the 200 block of Chatham Park Drive. His charge was pleaded down to criminal trespass, a summary offense, and he was let off with a $50 fine.

On June 17, an arrest warrant was issued for Wise on a charge of indirect criminal contempt after he apparently broke into Polk's apartment.

Two days later, West Mifflin police arrested Wise after he was seen at Century III Mall, where Polk worked, Moffatt said.

Wise was released Tuesday from jail on $5,000 bond, Moffatt said.

Police yesterday were still trying to put together a time line of the couple's last hours. Detectives also were trying to track the handgun found with Wise.

It was not clear how Wise got into Polk's apartment, but there were indications that Polk's screen door was damaged, police said.

Polk's mother, Patricia Polk, said last night that she had worried about her daughter's safety. Wise, she said, seemed unable to leave her daughter alone.

"He kept stalking her," Patricia Polk said.

She said she told him that her daughter had a boyfriend and that he needed to go on with his life.

Polk said the criminal justice system should have done more to protect her daughter.

"I want people to know the system does not work all the time," she said. "My daughter's not to blame."

A Schenley High School graduate, she was a manager at the clothing store where she worked and was taking community college classes in criminal law, family members said.

"She had a lot going for her," her mother said. "She was a good person, well respected. Everybody liked her."