TwinCities.com reported that the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women's annual "femicide report" showed 2012 had the lowest number of domestic-violence homicides since 1991. The report has been compiled since 1989. "While we're grateful that there are fewer victims, I think it's too early to say that this is a trend," said Rebekah Moses, the coalition's program manager. "I think that any victim that dies as a result of domestic violence is an outrage."
The Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women (MCBW) tracks homicides in which the known or suspected perpetrator was a current or former intimate partner or the homicide is the result of domestic violence between current or former intimate partners. This includes family members, friends, and interveners who are killed as a result of the domestic violence being perpetrated by a current/former intimate partner.
The 2012 Femicide Report documents the domestic violence homicides in Minnesota each year and is compiled from news accounts and information provided by law enforcement agencies, county attorneys, court administrators, battered women's programs, and family members and friends of murder victims. The following documents key facts regarding domestic violence homicides in 2012:
At least 14 women
Were murdered in cases where the suspected, alleged, or convicted perpetrator was a current or former husband, boyfriend, or intimate partner.
At least 3 friends, family members or interveners
Were murdered in domestic violence-related situations.
At least 1 man
Was murdered in a case where the suspected, alleged, or convicted perpetrator was a current or former intimate partner.
At least 11 minor children
Were left motherless due to domestic violence murders.
St. Paul Police Chief Thomas Smith said the coalition's work gives victims of domestic violence a voice."Silence is the deadly killer of domestic violence," he said. "Silence is what we have to wipe out."
If you are being battered and are looking for help, there are a wide variety of services available across Minnesota and they can be found by clicking on this link: Get Help . These programs can help you by talking through all of your options and supporting you as you move forward. They offer safe shelter, food, clothing, help with the legal process, assistance in getting restraining orders, support groups, information, and advocacy with child protection, public housing, and other systems you may be dealing with in your community.
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