Recent slayings expose scourge of domestic violence
By Abbey Brown
abrown@thetowntalk.com
The alleged murder of an Alexandria woman at the hands of her boyfriend hopefully will raise awareness of the growing problem of domestic violence locally and across the nation, say local police and those who work with battered women.
Louisiana ranks No. 1 in the country in the rate of domestic-violence deaths, according to FBI statistics.
Two recent slayings in Cenla -- with both women allegedly killed at the hands of their live-in boyfriends -- don't shock local officials who see the faces of those violent crimes every day.
The body of Chiquina Robinson, 31, was found Sunday in a Dumpster on Lower Third Street. She was apparently beaten to death. Her boyfriend, 25-year-old Marcus McCray, is being held in the Rapides Parish Jail on charges of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
Alexandria Police officers suspect Robinson was killed on Thursday in her Walden Point Apartment on Twin Bridges Road in Alexandria. Authorities say McCray has confessed to killing her.
"Maybe this situation will give someone else the courage to step away from a dangerous situation she may be in," said April Johnson, a licensed practical nurse and medical assisting instructor at Blue Cliff College.
"Miss Robinson was an outstanding and amazing person who had so much to offer. It is so sad. She was so compassionate and focused about what she wanted to do and could have offered the world so much. I hate to see something like this happen, not only for her family, but also for all those she could have helped along the way. It's a tragedy."
Robinson had nearly completed her training at Blue Cliff to become a medical assistant.
Robinson's death happened on the heels of a suspected domestic-violence murder in Avoyelles Parish. On Jan. 24, Avoyelles Parish law enforcement officials found the body of Amy Harris, 32, of Cottonport in a pasture in Marksville.
Her longtime boyfriend, 39-year-old Terry Jerard Day, of 451 Delphine Alley, Cottonport, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Detectives in that case said Day and Harris reportedly had a "tumultuous relationship" and that officers were called to their home several times in the past for reports of violence or arguments.
Alexandria Police Sgt. Ronnie Besson said officers from the department take reports of domestic violence very seriously.
"When we respond, if we have enough probable cause, we will arrest the suspect to prevent further abuse," he said. "And that happens even if the victim doesn't want to press charges."
Besson said the Police Department handles a lot of disturbance calls -- many of which end up being domestic violence -- and the number appears to be going up. And the law over the last few years has changed to force law enforcement agencies to take the crime even more seriously.
"Years ago, you could probably go to a domestic violence call, and if both parties said, 'We'll calm down,' then we would probably leave," Besson said. "Now we are required by law to make the arrest if the probable cause is there."
Officers also are required to ensure the victim receives needed medical care and is taken to a shelter, if that is requested. Information about rights to initiate civil and criminal proceedings also are shared with the victim.
But Kimberly Howell, community liaison for Turning Point Battered Women's Program, said more needs to be done.
"Considering there are places with so many more people and you look at Louisiana as being ranked No. 1, that's a big concern," she said. "We need to do everything we can to put a stop to it or at least lower the current numbers."
Howell said there were two similarities in these deaths -- both women tried to leave their partners several times, and both had been stalked by their partners. She said there are several factors why women don't leave their partners, including lack of resources, feeling like divorce isn't an option or becoming isolated from family and friends.
But the first step, she said, is to call Turning Point. The crisis line is a great resource not only for those who are victims, but also for those who think a loved one or friend may be.
"There is no easy fix to a domestic-violence situation," Howell said. "It is a huge, long process. But that is where we come in."
Turning Point has a 37-bed facility, but offers more than just shelter. It provides counseling, education, resources, group therapy and many outreach programs where women never have to step foot on their grounds.
One of the resources provided is legal advocates who walk victims through the court process of getting restraining orders and the trial process.
Annie Brown, a Turning Point legal advocate, said the law allows them to get involved with the victims and let them know what services are available. She is there for the bond hearings -- which are required before a suspected batterer is released from jail -- and she tries to contact the victim then if they haven't been contacted before.
Howell said they can meet almost any need required.
In addition to more awareness, Howell stressed that the community needs more education about domestic violence -- ways to recognize the signs and get someone help and also to prevent it from happening. She said there needs to be more education in schools because children who live with domestic violence are very likely to become batterers themselves.
Both Robinson's and Day's names will be added to the Magnolia program, a display of magnolias of all colors started in 1995 that represents Louisiana domestic-violence victims. Each flower has the name of the victim and the day they were killed.
"Miss Robinson, there wasn't a bad thing you could say about her," Blue Cliff's Johnson said. "Why in the world would someone want to take her away?"
Additional Facts
Help is available
If you or someone you know suffers from domestic violence, call the Turning Point Battered Women's Program's crisis line at 1-888-411-1333. For information about donating to or volunteering for Turning Point, call (318) 442-7196.
Memorial for victim
Blue Cliff College's Alexandria campus is planning a memorial for Chiquina Robinson and also is raising money to donate in her name to the Turning Point Battered Women's Program and to Robinson's family, which includes three children -- a daughter, 10, and two boys, ages 6 and 5. Call (318) 445-2778 for information about donating.
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