Today, the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) released 2015-2016 Domestic Violence Fatality Statistics, including victims of intimate partner violence, other individuals who died in domestic violence-related situations, and abusers who committed suicide or were killed.
MARYLAND NETWORK AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELEASES 2015-2016 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY STATISTICS
Today, the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) released 2015-2016 Domestic Violence Fatality Statistics, including victims of intimate partner violence, other individuals who died in domestic violence-related situations, and abusers who committed suicide or were killed.
Fifty-Five (55) individuals died in Maryland, including 42 victims, between July 2015 and June 2016 as a result of domestic violence. Fifty-eight percent (58%) or 32 of the domestic violence fatalities involved the use of a gun. There were at least 47 children left behind.
Forty-two (42) individuals who died were victims (76%). These victims included 34 victims who were killed by intimate partners: 26 women, one teen girl (age 17) and 7 men; 2 of these homicides occurred in a same-sex relationship. Eight (8) other people died in domestic violence situations, including 2 children, one who was killed by her father (age 2) and one who was killed by his mom’s boyfriend (age 14).
Of the 13 domestic violence abusers who lost their lives, 10 men committed suicide-murder or attempted murder-suicide; 2 men committed murder-suicide as well as arson; and 1 man was killed by his victim (the abuser’s ex-boyfriend) in self-defense.
MNADV will hold its 29th Annual Domestic Violence Memorial Service on Monday, February 13, 2017, 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the Joint Hearing Room of the Legislative Services Building in Annapolis. The Memorial Service will remember these 42 women, men, and children who died as a result of domestic violence during the past year, celebrate the survivors, and focus attention on changing laws to reduce domestic violence, improve victim safety, and provide greater abuser accountability.
The Memorial Service heightens awareness of domestic violence and reminds the community of the terrible toll that domestic violence takes each year on families in Maryland, but it also focuses on positive actions that can prevent future tragedies. The event will include speakers who will address the prevalence and seriousness of domestic violence in our state, and state legislators and other public officials, community leaders, advocates, and survivors will join together to reaffirm the commitment to end violence in our homes. The names of the individuals who died as a result of domestic violence between July 2015 and June 2016 will be read.