Tragic incident shines light on domestic violence

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – “This type of crime is so personal to me, it hurts my heart,” Crystal Sand said.

Sand is the Alabama attorney for Hope Harbor, a domestic violence shelter for women in the Chattahoochee Valley.

News-Leader 9 sat down with Sund following three recent deadly incidents of possible domestic violence in Columbus.

The most recent incident occurred Wednesday morning, when 79-year-old Jerry Wayne Wilson and 72-year-old Angela Wilson were killed in an apparent murder-suicide on Winberry Drive.

On July 12, a husband and wife duo, Tekelaya Jackson Stewart, 41, and Vincent Stewart, 51, were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide on Richland Drive.

On July 5, 20-year-old Chasty Dean was stabbed to death. Her husband, Kyle Dean, has been arrested and charged with murdering Chasty and her unborn child.

Sand, who represents his Russell County employer, said it’s common to see an increase in violent incidents during the summer and holidays, but he wants victims to know help is available no matter the time or situation.

“The numbers are alarming to me, but I also know that even one is too many for me,” Sand said.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

More than 10 million adults in the United States experience domestic violence each year.
One in three women has experienced some form of physical violence from an intimate partner.
One in seven men has experienced severe physical violence from their partner.
One in ten women is raped by an intimate partner.
Each year, 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence, and 90% of these children witness this violence.
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crimes.

“Unfortunately, these things happen and it’s something that everyone at Hope Harbour feels because we believe in what we do and we work hard to get the message out there that we provide as many services as we can,” Sand said.

Hope Harbor provides emergency shelter and a 24-hour crisis hotline to men, women and children who are victims of domestic violence in Muskogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, Talbot, Taylor and Harris counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama.

Sand says her work allows her to spot patterns in domestic abusers’ escalating violence.

“I always tell my clients that if someone says something that threatens your life or safety, take them at their word.”

She added to have compassion for those on the outside looking in.

“We need to be their voice and respond to them with the compassion and empathy they need,” Sand said.

Sand said statistically, it takes a victim at least seven tries to leave their abuser.

“Whenever you’re ready, we’re here to help,” Sand said.

Hope Harbor Crisis Hotline: (706) 324-3850

National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233

Source link