Domestic Violence Headlines for the Week of Sept. 1

Another week, another reminder that the fight isn’t over—but sharing these stories is how change begins.

Miami Dolphins Assistant Coach Arrested, Makes Bail After Strangling Woman

An assistant coach for the Miami Dolphins was arrested last Friday after witnesses say they saw him assault a woman outside a Fort Lauderdale luxury high-rise building where they share an apartment. Ryan Crow, the Dolphins’ outside linebackers coach, allegedly slapped the woman before lifting her off the ground and slamming her back down. Another witness reported he saw Crow strangle the woman. Crow reportedly stopped when he realized people were watching. 

Crow was arrested and charged with domestic battery before posting the $1,000 bond and being ordered to stay away from the victim. He was also placed on administrative leave from the team.

Unfortunately, simply being told to stay away from a victim whom an abuser has already strangled is not always the most effective deterrent, warn advocates. Strangulation is known to be the biggest predictor of homicide later on by that partner. In a study of homicide victims killed by an intimate partner, it was found that 43 percent had experienced a non-fatal strangulation by their partner prior to their murder. Researchers in the study, including acclaimed domestic violence expert Jacquelyn Campbell, who developed the Danger Assessment in 1987, determined that being strangled by a partner even one time increases a victim’s risk of homicide by that perpetrator over 600 percent.

“The majority of women murdered in domestic violence homicides are shot, so everyone thinks [prevention] is about getting the guns. But strangulation is the high predictor of a homicide with a gun,” says Casey Gwinn, JD, president of the Alliance for HOPE International.

Source: CBS Sports

Quick-Thinking Bystander Recognizes Abuse Hand Signal, Calls 911

A woman used a hand signal associated with domestic abuse victims while inside an Alhambra, Calif 7-Eleven on Monday, leading a bystander to call 911. After someone in the store recognized the woman signaling behind her back, police intervened and arrested the suspect, John Palombi of Glendora, after he tried to flee police. Officers found he was in possession of a stun gun and had an active warrant against him.

The hand signal that the woman was likely using is a universal sign for help when someone is in danger from an abuser. It was introduced during the COVID pandemic when survivors became increasingly isolated due to remote working conditions. It was thought that the signal could be used on a Zoom call if someone needed to covertly ask for help. 

The signal is done by putting a palm up to face a camera—or any person who may be in line of sight—then tucking in your thumb and using your other four fingers to cover the thumb. 

Source: WomensFundingNetwork.org. Designed for asking for help digitally, this hand signal also works off-line. 

If you see this signal or suspect someone is making this signal, call 911. There are other ways you can create a signal that you can coordinate with a trusted friend, family member, neighbor or coworker that can indicate things aren’t OK. This may include coded language or leaving a porch light on. For more ideas, see, “How to Spot a Signal for Help and How to Respond.”

Source: Yahoo News

Arizona Man Fatally Shoots Girlfriend After Claims They Were Arguing

A man fatally shot his girlfriend Saturday in Payson, Ariz., inside a car as his 1-year-old nephew sat beside her. Officers were called to a parking lot near a Denny’s around 10 a.m. after witnesses reported hearing gunshots. When they arrived, they found 22-year-old Donald Nash, who says he and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Keonna Honanie, had gotten into an argument. That’s when he reportedly took out a gun and shot her in the head. The young woman was transported to the hospital but later died. Three other people, including the toddler, were in the car at the time. Nash has been charged with murder, endangerment and resisting arrest. 

A common misconception about domestic violence is that abusers “lose control” in the heat of an argument and turn to violence—or even homicide—spontaneously. In reality, the stereotype that abusers simply have uncontrollable anger is false.

"Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior in which one exerts power and control over another individual," says Katie Ray-Jones, president of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. "To use the phrase ‘He's out of control’ isn't accurate. Everything about this person is about control, actually. It's not usually a one-time incident. In the 18 years I've been doing this, I've never worked with a victim who said it was only one time.”

Before an abuser escalates to homicide, they are most likely utilizing other tactics of abuse. This can include psychological or emotional abuse, verbal abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, or isolation. Recognizing the signs early can potentially save someone’s life. 

Source: AZFamily.com

Man Slashing Woman’s Tires Turns Out to Be Her Ex-Boyfriend, Standoff Ensues

In Jackson, Mich., on Saturday, a woman called 911 just after 11 p.m. to report she and her boyfriend saw a man in a ski mask attempting to slash their car’s tires. When the couple approached the man, he threatened them with a long metal object that he was wielding. The couple was uninjured, and the assailant fled. The boyfriend ran after him and was able to catch up to the suspect. That’s when he removed the man’s mask and found that the suspect was his girlfriend’s ex-partner, Tony Hulburt. He let the police know, who then attempted to apprehend 41-year-old Hulburt at a home where he, a woman and several children were inside. The man had a gun in his possession, leading to a five-hour stand-off with police before he eventually surrendered. 

It's estimated that 61 percent of women who experience stalking are stalked by a current or former partner, many of whom either imagine a more intimate relationship than what exists or who are angry or resentful that a relationship has ended. Like all types of abusive behavior, stalking is rooted in power and control—when an abuser feels like they don’t have control over their victim, they try to regain it through tactics that could include love-bombing, intimidation, coercion or threats. Stalking can escalate to more dangerous forms of power and control, either suddenly or gradually, and should be taken seriously. It’s important to know that stalking in any form is illegal in all 50 states. To learn more, read “What Is Stalking?”

Source: mlive.com