MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Domestic violence murders are plaguing the Mid-South this holiday season. Sunday, Memphis Police announced an ex-boyfriend shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and her father at an apartment complex, before turning the gun on himself. It marks the 3rd domestic violence related death in Memphis in a week.
While the holidays usually bring out the best in us, domestic violence experts say it brings out the worst in those who are abusive.
The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year for most, but not for some. Loraine Cady, who runs a domestic violence shelter, says "the holidays aren't always the best time for a lot of families."
Every year around the holidays domestic violence experts expect abusers to strike even more. They say domestic violence numbers double over the holidays.
"I would say forty-percent of shelter clients come in between Thanksgiving holiday and the first of the year," said Cady.
Unfortunately, not all make it to shelters. This week in alone in Memphis, there were three domestic violence related deaths.
Saturday the family of 21-year old Jackly Miller gathered at Sheffield High School to remember her. Police found Miller's body in her car trunk and her boyfriend, Richard Dickerson, is now charged with Second Degree Murder. Friends and family said there was a history of violence.
"She came in the other day with scratches on her face and we said you need to leave him alone," said Myesha Cooper, a friend and co-worker of Miller's. "She had scratches from her jaw bone to her nose."
On Thanksgiving Day there was a murder suicide at the Greenbrook Apartments. Brittany Davis and her father Ed were shot and killed. The gunman, who then shot himself, was her ex-boyfriend Derek Boykin.
"Get out of it," advised a domestic violence victim who did not want to be identified. "Don't feel like you're alone because you're not."
This victim got out before it was too late. She and her young child went to a local shelter a week before Thanksgiving after four years of an abusive marriage forced her hand.
"Hitting, choking, slapping, biting, pulling my hair, throwing me around, and I'm pregnant."
Experts believe numbers rise because of the amount of stress typically associated with holidays.
"The economy is not the best in the world," said Cady. "Money is very short for some families."
Still, Cady says hard times, stress, drug and alcohol abuse do not justify hitting someone. She urges those in these relationships to look for early signs, don't forgive the excuses, and get out before it's too late.
If you or someone you know is being abused, please get out and seek help. Domestic violence is serious and as you've seen here in this story, it can and will kill.
No comments:
Post a Comment