Josh Peterson / Reporter
Last updated: Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 05:39:36 PM
TRI-CITIES -- Five years ago, Denise Ross was living another life.
She was out of work, involved in drugs and was a perpetual victim of domestic violence.
"You lose your self worth, you lose everything. It's hard to see two feet in front of you when you've been beaten down" said Ross.
But her life took a drastic and positive turn when she found this safe house for abused family members in the Tri-Cities.
Ross realized she was a victim and started going to support groups for help.
Within a few years, she was a new person.
"The things that they have to offer here made it possible for me to put one foot in front of the other and make things happen for my life" said Ross.
And Ross and the local safe house have big time support as well.
Today, Washington's Attorney General, Rob McKenna, visited the house to see the progress it's made over the past few years, and what he could do to help the continuing line of victims.
"Domestic violence is the leading cause of homicide of women in the Tri-Cities. Just recently, over 60% of women who were being killed, were being killed by domestic violence situations" said McKenna.
In an effort to drastically lower those numbers, McKenna plans to introduce a state bill that would increase penalties for repeat offenders of domestic violence.
"We want to take the hardcore group of offenders and send them to state prison in order to create separation between themselves and their current and future victims" said McKenna.
And the announcement is music to Ross' ears.
After years of abuse, the past victim now works as a domestic violence advocate, and says the women she now works with need all the help they can get.
"Nobody deserves to be beat, nobody deserves to be degraded and belittled" said Ross.
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