Article: Wood county sees more deaths from domestic violence

In a report released by Wood County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, 12 out of 27 homicides are a direct result of domestic violence

By Nicole Krohn
Published: April 02, 2010
According to a report released on March 18 by the Wood County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, nearly half of the homicides in Wood County between June 1991 to June 2007 were the result of domestic violence.

The FRT was formed in November 2005 and is made up of representatives from various Wood County agencies. They started meeting monthly in January 2006 to review cases of victims murdered by their intimate partners.

Domestic violence occurs when one person purposely causes physical and/or mental harm to a family or household member. This can include family, child, sibling, or elder abuse. Intimate partner violence occurs between two people who are or have been in a close relationship, such as spouses and dating partners.

Out of 27 homicides found in the report, 12, or 44 percent, were domestic violence homicides compared to 9 percent nationally. Nine of the 12 domestic violence homicides, or 75 percent, were intimate partner homicides, according to the report.

The goal was to find gaps in the system and look for high risk factors in domestic violence situations.

"We reviewed each case in depth to try and find the patterns," said Kathy Mull, coordinator for the FRT and Victims Services program coordinator. "Then we tried to take a step back and find where we could close the gaps to help victims stay safe and widen the safety nets for them."

The FRT found several common characteristics in the cases.

All of the victims were women between 24 and 48 years old and had left or were in the process of leaving their abuser.

"The most dangerous time for women is when they try to break up or leave," said Mary Krueger, director of the Women's Center. "It's not to say we don't want them to get away or leave, but it is dangerous."

All of the perpetrators were men between 30 and 47 years old. They all showed signs of substance abuse, possessiveness or jealousy and controlling behavior.

Seven of the eight perpetrators had a previous history of violence with the victim, six showed stalking behavior and six had a previous history of violence based on criminal history or witness reports. Four perpetrators had at least one domestic violence charge. (There were nine victims but only eight perpetrators because one killed his wife and girlfriend.)

Mull said the FRT is now trying to find specific ways to implement changes in the areas in which gaps have been identified.

"We can always do better, which is why the team was formed," Mull said. "We need to continue raising awareness about domestic violence and work together as a community."

Undergraduate Studies Coordinator and Women's Studies Instructor Sarah Rainey said one of the most important things we can do is hold domestic violence perpetrators more accountable.

"We need to make sure the sentences are equal to other crimes and sentences for murder because when they're not, it sends a message to the community that violence against women is OK," she said.

?Rainey also said one of the reasons domestic violence continues is because women are still not equal to men in many ways.

"We should focus on equalizing power between men and women in the first place, because only then will domestic violence end," Rainey said.

Krueger said changes in legislature will not fix the problem.

"What we need most is to change the way we think about domestic violence," she said. "Why do we blame the victims? Why aren't we holding the perpetrator, and only the perpetrator, accountable? Law won't change this way of thought."

Krueger also said people tend to blame the victims for not leaving because it makes them feel more in control of their own lives.

"If you look at a battered woman and say, 'I'm no different than you,' then you're saying that could happen to you too," she said. "We need to realize she didn't get killed because she failed to leave him, she got killed because he decided to kill her."

The only way to stop domestic violence, Krueger said, is to take action. ??

"I would like to see non-abusive men get more pissed off about what their abusive brothers are doing," she said. "Everyone, male or female, can challenge victim blaming attitudes. We have to challenge that thinking, not just look the other way. Changing people's minds and hearts is always how justice happens."

For people who are in domestic violence situations, there are several programs available in Bowling Green to help.

The Cocoon Shelter provides safe emergency housing to domestic violence victims. The Center for Access to Safety and Justice provides one location where victims can go to get help. Victims Services of Behavioral Connections also provides 24 hour advocacy services.

"There are services out there to help, but many people just don't know what those services are," Mull said.