BY RICHARD ECKE • TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER • DECEMBER 5, 2010
Murder followed by suicide has become more commonplace in northcentral Montana during the last year, devastating relatives and friends and alarming the community at large.
"This happens far too often in this community," community activist Cyndi Baker told Great Falls city commissioners at a Nov. 16 meeting.
Great Falls has averaged about three homicides per year since January 2000, yet has seen two murder-suicides in the city in the last three months.
The death toll in the region from murder-suicides stands at five people since November 2009.
All three women died in a home they shared with their husband or boyfriend. Two of the three men killed themselves a short time later, while a third suicide attempt failed.
"It's scary," said Autumn Frey, executive director of the YWCA, which operates the Mercy Home shelter in Great Falls for battered women and their children. "There's always another avenue. If you're in a situation, call us. We can help."
"It's a serious issue," said Great Falls City Attorney James Santoro. "It's one of the higher priorities of our office."
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