New Report Released During Domestic Violence Awareness Month Shows Increase in the Number of Women Killed in Texas
El Paso, 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 by their husband, ex-husband, intimate partner, boyfriend or ex-boyfriend. 114 women were killed in domestic violence murders in 2012. 102 women were killed in 2011. Four women were killed in El Paso County.
El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza and Stephanie Karr, Executive Director at the Center Against Family Violence, joined Texas Council on Family Violence CEO Gloria Terry at a news conference in El Paso to unveil the annual report titled: “Honoring Texas Victims: Family Violence Fatalities.”
The report pays tribute to Texas victims by memorializing their story with a brief account of the crime. It includes core data and statistics culled from our analysis. “By the Numbers” is a summary, using charts and graphs to depict statistical information pertaining to fatalities, including some demographics.
“Domestic violence murders are knowable, identifiable and predictable,” said Gloria A. Terry, CEO of the Texas Council on Family Violence. “Honoring Texas Victims: Family Violence Fatalities recognizes all Texas family violence victims lost in this tragic crime. We hope the 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 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.
Some key statistics include:
- The victim’s ages ranged from age 15 to 84
- Harris County had the highest number of deaths
- 74% of the women were killed at home
- 60% were shot
- 17% were stabled
- 11% were strangled
- 21 women had taken steps to leave
- 20 homicides within one to two days of a national holiday
- 15 bystanders or witnesses killed
- 4 bodies burned
“Domestic violence hurts families and it is a crime. At the District Attorney’s Office we fight to ensure the safety of victims and their families,” said Jaime Esparza, El Paso District Attorney.
TCFV and the Center against Family Violence also recognized the El Paso District Attorney who received a top national award for protecting victims of domestic violence. The Foundation for Improvement of Justice, Inc. in Atlanta, selected Esparza as the Paul H. Chapman Award Winner for his efforts to save lives, increase the quality of life for our most vulnerable and have force his peers in the justice system to closely examine their role.
“The Center Against Family Violence (CAFV) is proud of the work of District Attorney Jaime Esparza in advocating for survivors of domestic violence. He certainly deserves this national recognition for his pioneering work for justice for survivors. By knowing that the judicial system will be responsive to them, those harmed by domestic violence are more likely to come forward, report this horrible crime and seek help,” said Stephanie Karr, Executive Director at the Center Against Family Violence.
“While we put the spotlight on domestic violence during October, CAFV works year-around with individuals and families who have been subjected to violence in their own homes. Our efforts to provide immediate shelter and long-term advocacy and support are supported by our colleagues in the judicial system and law enforcement. The support of the El Paso community for our work is a critical component of our mission to prevent and reduce domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Karr.
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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 to prevent family violence. Visit us online at:
http://www.tcfv.org/.