APRIL 16, 2009 ISSUE
131 Domestic Violence Homicides Statewide In 2008
No Deaths in High Country, But “Terrible Things” Still Happen
None of the domestic violence homicides reported in North Carolina in 2008 happened in the High Country, but that doesn’t mean this area is free of domestic violence, or that “terrible things” don’t happen here said Becca Gummere of OASIS, the local support group for victims of domestic violence.
Gummere was commenting on the report the North Carolina Attorney General’s office released in late March, which revealed that 131 homicides in the state in 2008 were domestic violence deaths. Gummere cited a local incident last January in which a husband shot his wife critically and then killed himself.
“The kids witnessed that,” said Gummere.
While the dead man was not a domestic violence victim—he was the perpetrator—the children were traumatized and the wife is still in critical condition.
Captain Dee Dee Rominger of Watauga Country Sheriff’s Department said that Johnnie Greene’s death will be included during 2009 reporting to the state for this year’s domestic violence homicide statistics.
The attorney general’s report is the first following a 2007 law requiring police reporting of domestic violence homicides to the State Bureau of Investigation. Urban Mecklenburg County had the most domestic violence homicides with 14 deaths, but rural Edgecombe County reported five.
“We owe it to those killed to look for ways to stop these crimes from happening,” said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper when releasing the report. He said the authorities “should aim very broadly in [their] efforts,” to deal with a widespread problem. Domestic violence occurs among both rich and poor also.
The homicides were more than 23 percent of the average of all homicides annually in North Carolina—about 550 in recent years, according to the attorney general’s office. The latest tally is not yet available.
From January 1 to March 31 this year, Watauga County Sheriff’s Department handled 70 domestic violence calls. Last year’s total was 326.
OASIS served 98 domesti violence clients in the same period. There may be some overlap with police figures, but those who call OASIS for help are not required to call the police.
The North Carolina report includes killings of family members such as parents and children, not just spouses or intimate partners. There were 99 female and 32 male victims, with 103 male offenders and 25 female offenders.
The website of the North Carolina Coalition against Domestic Violence reports that, up to the end of March, there were 20 spousal or domestic partner homicides and two family violence homicides in the state this year.
Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman said that domestic violence incidents are “volatile.”
“Anytime there is a domestic violence incident we take it seriously. We are looking for the safety of the victim, the suspect and the officer,” said Hagaman.
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
