Four dead in just two weeks in the CSRA due to domestic violence incidents

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Within the last two weeks, four people have died due to a domestic violence situation in the CSRA.

A national domestic violence prevention organization states one in four women and one in nine men experience some form of abuse in a relationship.

Here in the CSRA, a woman and her son were stabbed to death, and their home was set on fire. Just seven days later 46-year-old Latoya Price was shot to death in her home due to a domestic violence incident.

“Might start out with tensions building, and you notice you’re kinda walking on eggshells but not really sure why,” Safe Homes Development Director Jennifer Frantom said.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence says nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S.

“Just kinda keeping things normal, and then, there’s an incident. It might be verbal, it might be… it might not seem that big of a deal at first,” Frantom said.

Whether it be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, they all come in a cycle that experts say, many victims find it hard to come out of.

“When the relationship begins, it’s very normal to want to spend all your time with that person. It’s the excitement of a new relationship, and that might seem endearing, it might be… seem like everything is good, but other people might be looking on saying, “This is moving really fast, really soon,” Frantom said.

Experts say a person will return to their partner seven times before deciding to leave the situation.

“It’s something to kind of make you stop and think, “Is that okay?” But you sort of brush it off, and then, of course they’re apologizing, and then, the cycle begins again,” Frantom said.

But Frantom says there are ways to get out of the relationship while you still can.

“On our website, which is SafeHomesdv.org , you can find out a lot of information about our programs and services, as well as, there’s a tab about how to help a loved one.”

If you or someone you know might be experiencing a similar situation, feel free to call the 24-hour Safe Homes hotline at 706-736-2499.

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