New Report Released During Domestic Violence Awareness Month Shows Increase in the Number of Women Killed in Texas
Go Purple Campaign Seeks to Turn All Counties in Texas Purple
Austin, Texas— The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) today released a new report that shows an increase in the number of women killed in domestic violence murders in Texas. 142 women were killed by an intimate partner in 2010. That is an increase of 31 deaths over 2009.
The report released by the Texas Council on Family Violence and compiled from data from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas law enforcement agencies and media reports list names of the victims and gives brief accounts of their deaths.
The report also includes a map, where the white counties represent counties where a woman has been killed in a domestic violence murder. The purple represents counties where there were no women killed by their intimate partner in 2010.
“Family violence represents a serious, preventable public health problem. We challenge all of Texas to Go Purple and strive for a state where no woman loses her life as a result of family violence, “said Gloria A. Terry, President of the Texas Council on Family Violence. “Honoring Texas Victims: Family Violence Fatalities recognizes all Texas family violence victims lost in this tragic crime.”
GO PURPLE
We challenge Texans to simultaneously remember victims and
envision a Texas where the whole map turns purple.
KEY FINDINGS OF THE REPORT:
• The victim’s ages ranged from age 17 to 78. The majority of victims were between 30 and 39 years of age, followed by 20-29 and 40-49.
• Six women murdered were under the age of 20. Three were teenagers. Of these six, three were murdered by a boyfriend and three were murdered by an ex-boyfriend.
• Two 78 year old women were murdered by their husbands
• Murders Resulting in Children Losing Their Mothers- 53 homicides involved women who had children. In 41 of the cases, a total of 39 children witnessed the death of their mother. A three month old represents the youngest surviving child.
• Three 17 year old high school students were murdered
• Five pregnant women were murdered
• 56 cases were murder-suicides
• Four women were murdered despite having a protective order in place
• Three counties with large urban cities had the highest number of women killed: Harris County, which includes the city of Houston, had the highest number of deaths. (35 Deaths)
• 18 women were killed in the Dallas County in 2010
• 12 women were killed in Tarrant County in 2010
• 7 women were killed in Bexar County in 2010
• 6 women were killed in Travis County in 2010
• 4 women were killed in Galveston County in 2010
• 4 women were killed in Hidalgo County in 2010
• 3 women were killed in Bell County in 2010
• 3 women were killed in Cameron County in 2010
• 2 women were killed in Potter County in 2010
• 2 women were killed in Williamson County in 2010
• 2 women were killed in Smith County in 2010
• 1 women killed in Lubbock County in 2010
• 1 women killed in Denton County in 2010
• 1 women killed in El Paso County in 2010
• 1 women killed in McLennan County in 2010
• 1 women killed in Nueces County in 2010
• 1 women killed in Angelina County in 2010
Terry added, “Domestic violence tears at the very fabric of our society and the surviving families of these victims remain changed forever. As a community committed to keeping women and children safe, we must learn from a review of these tragic deaths. Professionals and individuals alike have the ability to create the social change necessary to make Texas safe for women and families.”
Honoring Texas Victims: Family Violence Fatalities serves multiple purposes. First and foremost, it pays tribute to Texas victims by memorializing their story with a brief account of the crime. This report will evoke deeper and more meaningful discussions about barriers and realities that affect the ability of women to escape danger within their relationships.
The report strengthens our collective communities’ resolve to end violence against women and girls and work earnestly to save lives. We encourage the media to contact their local shelter or domestic violence program to localize this report in your community.
View the full report or to check the number of deaths in each county at: http://www.tcfv.org/pdf/Honoring-Texas-Victims.pdf.
###
Texas Council on Family Violence is a statewide organization representing a network of domestic violence programs that provide direct services to victims and their families, and serves as the voice of victims at the state level while working with local communities to create strategies. Their website is www.tcfv.org/.