POWER AND

CONTROL

Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report 2011 & 2012

(September 2013)

48 domestic violence-related homicides

4 perpetrator suicides

52 total deaths (victim & perpetrator)

End Domestic Abuse WI, Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

2011 & 2012, September 2013

There were an average of 3.3 domestic violence homicide deaths per month in Wisconsin.

In 2012, 86% of perpetrators were men.

End Domestic Abuse WI, Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

2011 & 2012, September 2013

Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report 2011 & 2012

(September 2013)

Peshtigo, 2013Peshtigo, 2013An advocate for victims of domestic violence was found An advocate for victims of domestic violence was found murdered in April. She had reportedly told a friend that murdered in April. She had reportedly told a friend that she was done with her boyfriend because he had been she was done with her boyfriend because he had been stalking her the night before while she was out with a stalking her the night before while she was out with a

friend.friend.

Early the next day, the boyfriend was found sleeping in a Early the next day, the boyfriend was found sleeping in a car in Wauwatosa and was held for questioning. He was car in Wauwatosa and was held for questioning. He was

subsequently charged with 1subsequently charged with 1stst degree intentional degree intentional homicide.homicide.

Door County, 2012Door County, 2012The couple came from Illinois to an Ellison Bay resort for The couple came from Illinois to an Ellison Bay resort for the man’s sister’s wedding. The man told police they had the man’s sister’s wedding. The man told police they had worked together for years and been romantically involved worked together for years and been romantically involved

for about 1 year. for about 1 year.

The district attorney said, “He wished it to be more…She The district attorney said, “He wished it to be more…She clearly did not.” The man wanted to make plans for the day clearly did not.” The man wanted to make plans for the day

after the wedding; she wanted to go home. He woke her after the wedding; she wanted to go home. He woke her early in the morning, strangled her, and then had sex with early in the morning, strangled her, and then had sex with

her corpse.her corpse.

The district attorney said, “His hopes were shattered, but The district attorney said, “His hopes were shattered, but they were hopes that only existed in his mind – not from they were hopes that only existed in his mind – not from

anything that she had led him on to believe.”anything that she had led him on to believe.”

Madison, 2013Madison, 2013A 31-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment in A 31-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment in

January. She was murdered just before she and her January. She was murdered just before she and her estranged husband were to go to court to officially end their estranged husband were to go to court to officially end their marriage. The woman told relatives that her husband had marriage. The woman told relatives that her husband had hurt her psychologically before she left him, but that he hurt her psychologically before she left him, but that he

would never physically harm her. would never physically harm her.

The estranged husband was found dead in his residence The estranged husband was found dead in his residence from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Madison police said there was no record of domestic Madison police said there was no record of domestic violence. The case was ruled a murder-suicide.violence. The case was ruled a murder-suicide.

Wauwatosa, 2012Wauwatosa, 2012In the early morning hours of Christmas Eve 2012, a In the early morning hours of Christmas Eve 2012, a

Wauwatosa police officer left a fire hall after taking a break. Wauwatosa police officer left a fire hall after taking a break. Walking to her squad car in the parking lot, her husband Walking to her squad car in the parking lot, her husband

shot her twice in the head with a stolen handgun and then shot her twice in the head with a stolen handgun and then shot her a number of times in the face with her service shot her a number of times in the face with her service

revolver. He told police he had been stalking her for days.revolver. He told police he had been stalking her for days.

The officer’s police chief believed the husband was jealous The officer’s police chief believed the husband was jealous that she was “making something of her life.”that she was “making something of her life.”

The officer’s husband was convicted and sentenced to life The officer’s husband was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in 35 years. imprisonment with the possibility of parole in 35 years.

River Falls, 2012River Falls, 2012In July, a man traveled from North Dakota to the home of his In July, a man traveled from North Dakota to the home of his ex-wife in River Falls, where she lived with their 3 daughters, ex-wife in River Falls, where she lived with their 3 daughters,

ages 11, 8, and 5 years. His ex-wife was at work and the ages 11, 8, and 5 years. His ex-wife was at work and the girls were with their babysitter, who was allowed to leave. girls were with their babysitter, who was allowed to leave.

Two hours after his arrival, he called his ex-wife at work and Two hours after his arrival, he called his ex-wife at work and told her, “You can come home now, I’ve killed the kids.”told her, “You can come home now, I’ve killed the kids.”

The prosecutor said that the father had used the girls “as The prosecutor said that the father had used the girls “as pawns,” murdering them to get back at his ex-wife.pawns,” murdering them to get back at his ex-wife.

He was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to 3 consecutive He was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to 3 consecutive life terms.life terms.

Manitowoc, 2012Manitowoc, 2012Police on 3/13/12 arrested an intoxicated 31-year-old Police on 3/13/12 arrested an intoxicated 31-year-old

Manitowoc man who allegedly started a newspaper on fire and Manitowoc man who allegedly started a newspaper on fire and threw it at his 26-year-old live-in girlfriend.threw it at his 26-year-old live-in girlfriend.

According to the Manitowoc Police Department report:According to the Manitowoc Police Department report:

Officers responded to a family trouble call. The couple argued Officers responded to a family trouble call. The couple argued about the identity of the father of her unborn child, she said, about the identity of the father of her unborn child, she said,

when he squeezed her face and pushed her.when he squeezed her face and pushed her.

She told police he lit the newspaper on fire after she refused to She told police he lit the newspaper on fire after she refused to give him a cigarette.give him a cigarette.

He was arrested for domestic violence-related disorderly He was arrested for domestic violence-related disorderly conduct.conduct.

January 6, 2010

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Domestic Violence homicides in Wisconsin were on target to hit a 10-year high in 2009 with an average of more than one person dying every week, according to data released this week by the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

La Crosse, 2009La Crosse, 2009It ended as he threatened it would.

She lay lifeless and bloody in the driveway.

Her estranged husband, struggled to breathe next to her, having then put the .22-caliber

rifle to his forehead.

When her sister-in-law found them

on May 21, 2009, her first thought was, according to the police report, “Oh, my God, he followed through with it and he killed her.”

Warrens, 2009Warrens, 2009Two months later and 50 miles away, Brent drove to his estranged wife’s Warrens home

with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and a mission: “To put a hole in her,” according to

court records.

He fatally shot 37-year-old Teresa while her 14-year-old daughter listened from upstairs.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn attributes the spike in killings in 2010 to an increase in multiple-victim homicides and murders that stemmed from domestic disputes or arguments that escalated to violence. 11 slayings were the result of domestic violence, up from 7 in 2009.

20102010

Women who leave their batterers are at a 75% greater risk of being killed by the batterer than those who stay.

Barbara Hart, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1998

MadisonMadisonFor one woman, struggling through years of abuse meant nearly losing her life. Now her story of survival is inspiring others, and teaching the dangers of domestic violence. Julie was left nearly

bludgeoned to death on her kitchen floor.

"He pulled out a mallet. The whole time he kept saying 'Tonight's the night you're gonna die.'... I remember the first blow. I remember

the second hit and then everything went black.“

The man behind the attack was her husband, Jerry.

MadisonMadisonJerry left a message for one of Julie's friends just moments after he

tried to kill her. In it, he said "Julie put me over the edge and I think I just killed her. I wish people would listen to me instead of making me out to

be the crazy one. She drove me crazy. Those two kids are better off without her, she is not a good person. I'm sorry, it is what it is. "

Julie's two toddlers watched from their high chairs as their father beat her with a mallet.

She was left with multiple skull fractures, she lost part of her ear, and her face was bruised and swollen.

For her two older children, those images will never go away.

A man was accused of breaking his wife’s jaw during an argument. He refused to take her to a medical facility. She drove herself to

the emergency room. She did not immediately report the incident out of shame

and embarrassment.

Rusk CountyRusk County

A 47-year-old Ladysmith man is charged with knocking out his girlfriend and breaking

her nose during an altercation.

LadysmithLadysmith

Police officer quits after charges filed.

An argument between the man and his girlfriend, the mother of his nearly 2-year-old

son, turned violent.

The officer has a 2003 conviction for a domestic-related incident.

KenoshaKenosha

Felony charges were filed Monday against a 24-year-old La Crosse man accused in a

violent domestic incident that included threats to kill his female companion.

La CrosseLa Crosse

Authorities allege a man shot and killed his former wife at her Fitchburg apartment

complex. 

The couple had recently divorced.

FitchburgFitchburg

A woman was stabbed five times early Monday morning by an ex-boyfriend who

waited for her in the dark as she left home for work.

BlairBlair

An off-duty Appleton firefighter shot and killed his estranged wife and wounded her mother Friday in the driveway of the home

the couple once shared.

Grand ChuteGrand Chute

A man was trying to choke his wife when their daughter stepped in to break it up.

The man then began punching their daughter in the face.

River FallsRiver Falls

Police say a man shot his ex-girlfriend with a pistol outside a Janesville home

after an argument.

JanesvilleJanesville

A man killed his estranged girlfriend and two of their three children.

NelsonvilleNelsonville

Balancing Domestic Abuse Awareness

and W-2 Participation

Domestic Abuse Incident Report (DAIR) 2011 Domestic Abuse Incident Report (DAIR) 2011 Wisconsin Department of Justice - Issued December 2012Wisconsin Department of Justice - Issued December 2012

Executive summaryExecutive summary

•28,539 domestic abuse incidents were reported to law 28,539 domestic abuse incidents were reported to law enforcement and referred to Wisconsin district attorneys’ enforcement and referred to Wisconsin district attorneys’ offices in 2011.offices in 2011.

•Nearly half of all victims were 18-29 years old, Nearly half of all victims were 18-29 years old, approximately one quarter were 30-39.approximately one quarter were 30-39.

•An arrest was made in 71% of the reported incidents.An arrest was made in 71% of the reported incidents.

DAIR 2011 DAIR 2011

• No arrest was made in 28% of incidents. Note that the No arrest was made in 28% of incidents. Note that the lack of an arrest may signify that the suspect was not lack of an arrest may signify that the suspect was not present when the incident was reported or when law present when the incident was reported or when law enforcement arrived. It may also indicate an incident in enforcement arrived. It may also indicate an incident in which a decision was made by law enforcement to not which a decision was made by law enforcement to not arrest the suspect. arrest the suspect.

• Less than 1% of incidents resulted in a “dual Less than 1% of incidents resulted in a “dual arrest/situation,” defined as more than one person arrest/situation,” defined as more than one person arrested or charged.arrested or charged.

“Nearly all of the studies that have investigated the issue of

domestic violence among women receiving TANF have

found that over half of the women receiving welfare said

that they had experienced physical abuse by an intimate

male partner at some point during their adult lives”

Welfare, Poverty and Abused Women: New Research and its Implications by

Eleanor Lyon and published by the National Resource Center on Domestic

Violence

20122012State Senate Passes Important Victim BillsState Senate Passes Important Victim Bills

Madison Madison 3/13/12, the state Senate passed 3/13/12, the state Senate passed the Wisconsin Crime Victim Rights the Wisconsin Crime Victim Rights

Restoration Act and a bill that permits Restoration Act and a bill that permits domestic violence and stalking victims to domestic violence and stalking victims to legally change their names confidentially. legally change their names confidentially.

Victim advocates praised both actions.Victim advocates praised both actions.

20122012State Senate Passes Two Bills to Improve State Senate Passes Two Bills to Improve

Criminal Justice System for VictimsCriminal Justice System for Victims

Madison Madison 3/13/12, the state Senate approved two 3/13/12, the state Senate approved two bills that victim advocates say will allow for easier bills that victim advocates say will allow for easier participation by domestic violence victims in the participation by domestic violence victims in the

criminal justice system and hold perpetrators criminal justice system and hold perpetrators accountable. While praising the Senate’s actions, accountable. While praising the Senate’s actions,

advocates also urged passage of important advocates also urged passage of important measures preserving crime victim rights and measures preserving crime victim rights and

preventing interstate stalking and abuse.preventing interstate stalking and abuse.

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