In Ohio, the impact of domestic violence continues to devastate families.
The Ohio Domestic Violence Network has released its ninth annual fatality report, revealing that 114 people, including 15 children, lost their lives to domestic violence in the past year. This includes incidents where victims were shot, strangled, or beaten—often while trying to leave their abuser.
According to O-D-V-N’s Legal Counsel, Lisa DeGeeter, these victims were seeking help.
“We continue to see victims, particularly parents, reach out for help to protect themselves and their children and not receive what is needed to save their lives. The victims were leaving, they were reporting, filing charges, requesting protection orders, but it wasn’t enough to stop the violence.”
Despite protective measures, 72-percent of cases involved victims who had prior interaction with the justice system.
Critics argue that current resources and interventions are insufficient to prevent violence escalation, fueling debates about Ohio’s legal framework for protecting survivors.
Advocates say Ohio’s younger population is also deeply affected. The report shows that 79 children lost a parent to domestic violence, with at least 33 children present during the fatal incidents.
Maria York, a domestic violence prevention advocate, highlights the profound impact on children who not only lose their caregiver, but also a sense of security and normalcy.
“We don’t want this to be the new normal. After COVID, we had 131 fatalities, it seems like this is the new normal of just having these triple-digit homicides with domestic violence.”
York calls on law enforcement, policymakers, and community leaders to collaborate to address the issue.
The report also shows that domestic violence fatalities have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, and more than two-thirds of the cases involve firearms.
~ ONC Reporting