Article: Deadly Domestic Disputes On The Rise

Posted: April 2, 2010 07:25 PM
According to experts, deadly domestic violence incidents in Madison County are on the rise. 'Homicide Survivor Program' volunteers say about 95% of the people they help need help because a family member has been killed by domestic violence, but there are ways to help prevent the crime.

Brande Graham lost her hero, her mentor, her father when she was 23. "My father was murdered. It murder suicide by his girlfriend. She killed my father at his home in Oklahoma City then turned around and killed herself afterwards," said Graham.

Graham says looking back; the warning signs to get help were there. "She had had a history of being jealous in her past relationships she had gotten possessive. She had gotten really mentally unstable to the point she was threatening to kill herself," said Graham. Brande has tried to turn the negative into a positive and help others who have been affected by a homicide so she joined the homicide survivors program with family services. "I was seeking counseling every week and group counseling, and then I got involved in the community with other homicide survivors," said Graham.

Now she's a Homicide Survivor Program volunteer. She helps others in similar situations. "By his life being taken I've learned how to help other people recognize the signs and symptoms of violence and get them out of there," said Graham.

Some of the signs of a domestic violence situation are:

- controlling or possessive behavior

-anger or rage

-drug or alcohol abuse

-suicidal thoughts or any signs of mental instability



"Don't ignore those signs! Don't ignore those! Go ahead and call someone. Get help for yourself. Get help for them," said Graham. Graham says if you are in a dangerous situation call authorities. If you need a safe place to stay call the domestic shelter 'Hope Place' at (256) 716-1000.

Graham says she is working with others to try and increase the consequences of violating a protection or restraining order, which happened in yesterday's deadly domestic dispute.

Reporter: Stephanie Beecken