My question is, what redeeming quality did that dude have that made them get together in the first place?

He stockpiles guns, probably hates minorities, foreigners, liberals, and likely doesn't believe women have the same capabilities as men and such outlooks on like led directly to his professional life and career options.

Whoda thunk someone with all the above traits might just also be a shitty wife beater?

Not blaming the victim because it's not like she brought it upon herself but she was literally with a guy whose worldview was fighting against everyone and anything not like himself so not really sure what he must have had going on otherwise that would have made him a catch.