Regarding the Domestic Violence Attempted Murder of Allison Taylor

Press Statement by Mary Roda, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, and Deborah DeBare, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, May 8, 2013

CONTACT: Cristina Williams at RICADV: (401) 467-9940; Cell: (917) 940-3729; cristina@ricadv.org; www.ricadv.org; Facebook.com/RICADV; Twitter @RICADV

"Our hearts go out to the family, friends and community of Allison Taylor. Her tragic death, allegedly at the hands of her son, reminds us how far we have to go to achieve a society in Rhode Island that is free of violence in the home. While details are still unfolding, this tragedy appears to be a clear case of domestic elder abuse. Allison Taylor was 65, and we know that her son, Robert Taylor, 45, was living in the home with her; he has been charged with domestic murder for the killing of his mother and disposal of her body."

Read more: Regarding the Domestic Violence Murder of Allison Taylor

Regarding the domestic violence double murder/suicide of Carla Bowen, Christopher Butler and John Oliveira

Press Statement by Judith Earle, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center & Deborah DeBare, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Reza Clifton, RICADV: (401) 467-9940, Cell: (401) 497-5246

"First and foremost, our hearts go out to the children, family and community of Carla Bowen and Christopher Butler, who were found murdered on Saturday morning, March 16 after a call to authorities by one of Bowen's 12 year old sons; her second son (she had twins) was also reportedly in the house at the time of the shootings. We are horrified, saddened and dismayed by this heinous act of domestic violence – the second and third domestic violence murders of 2013."

"While details are still unfolding, we know that John Oliveira, who was Bowen's ex-boyfriend, entered the house and shot Bowen and Butler multiple times before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide. Given the previous nature of Oliveira and Bowen's relationship, we must be sure to refer to this murder-suicide as what it is: the final act of domestic violence, for murder is the ultimate expression of the abuser's need to control his partner's behavior and suicide ensures that the abuser cannot be held accountable."

"We are particularly saddened to hear that Bowen's children were in the house at the time of the crime. We too often overlook the fact that domestic violence impacts the entire family, including children who may witness or hear the violence occur."

"This case in particular highlights why we are fighting to restore state budget cuts that have been proposed to the services for children who witness domestic violence. In 2011 police in Rhode Island responded to 2,092 domestic violence calls where children were present, and more than half of the people staying in domestic violence shelters and transitional housing in 2012 were children. This is why it is critical that members and leadership within the RI General Assembly restore funding for essential services for children who witness domestic violence."

"It is important to remember that these acts were not isolated incidents; they are part of a public health crisis here in RI, where domestic violence happens in every community. To prevent another tragedy, citizens and policymakers must make a commitment to say NO MORE and help end domestic violence. The RICADV's six local domestic violence agencies provide a wide array of services for victims – including 24 hour hotline support, emergency shelter, support groups, and assistance with the legal system. For more information about these organizations and services, call the statewide Helpline at 800-494-8100. And if you hear or see someone being hurt, call 911 immediately."

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Press Statement by Lori DiPersio, Executive Director of the Women's Resource Center and Deborah DeBare, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Regarding the Domestic Violence Murder of Terry L. Chiodo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 27, 2013

CONTACT: Cristina Williams at RICADV, Phone: (401) 467-9940; Cell: (917) 940-3729

"First and foremost, our hearts go out to the family, friends and community of Terry L. Chiodo.  While her death marks the first murder to occur in Portsmouth in a decade and Rhode Island's first domestic violence murder in 2013, it is also a stark reminder that we have a long way to go to achieve a Rhode Island that is free of domestic violence.  Even in a community that is known for its safety, domestic violence does happen behind closed doors every day by abusers who seek to control their partners—murder is often their final act of abuse.  It is important to remember that these acts are not isolated incidents; they are part of a public health crisis whether they happen in the home or on a bus."

"Domestic violence is, however, preventable; it escalates to the point of murder because our system has failed to either keep a victim safe or hold an abuser accountable.  In this case, we know that the perpetrator and ex-husband of Chiodo, Christopher James, has a lengthy criminal record and history of domestic violence charges that were dismissed."

Read more: Statement Regarding the Domestic Violence Murder of Terry L. Chiodo

Regarding the domestic violence murder-suicide of Natasha Marshall and Federico Rico in Pawtucket, R.I.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 6, 2012
CONTACT: Cristina Williams at RICADV: (401) 467-9940; Cell: (917) 940-3729

Statement by Deborah DeBare, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Linda Impagliazzo, Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center

"First and foremost, our hearts go out to the family, friends and community of Natasha Marshall. Though not much has yet been released about the murder committed against her by her live-in boyfriend Federico Rico, her death is a stark reminder that we still have a long way to go to achieve a Rhode Island that is free of domestic violence in our homes and in our communities."

"In a week where much attention has been placed on NFL player Jovan Belcher, the murder he committed against his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, his motives, injuries and subsequent suicide, this local case reminds us that domestic violence can happen anywhere – from the NFL field to a Pawtucket apartment. Ultimately, these cases are both about the loss of life tied to an escalation of domestic violence. Regardless of the circumstances, there is never an excuse for abuse. We must be sure to call murder-suicides what they are: the ultimate act of domestic violence."

"Domestic violence escalates to the point of murder because our system has failed to either keep a victim safe or hold an abuser accountable. Unfortunately, when an abuser murders his partner, the tragedy is often incorrectly portrayed as an unintentional "crime of passion" caused by the man's overwhelming love for the woman or the abuser is said to "have snapped" in response to a situation."

"In reality, at the very heart of domestic violence is the belief by the abuser that he or she is entitled to control his or her partner. Understanding this teaches us that perpetrators don't just snap or lose their temper; their violence escalates as their control begins to erode. Murder is the ultimate expression of the abuser's need to control his partner's behavior."

"This tragedy reminds us that even when there is not an official police record of domestic violence, abuse can exist and there are usually signs. Domestic violence consists of a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviors which escalate over time. Victims often experience months or years of emotional, physical or sexual abuse at the hands of their intimate partner without ever having called the police."

"This tragedy also reminds us that anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence regardless of socio-economic, ethnic, racial, gender identity, sexual orientation, educational backgrounds and professions. Domestic violence happens in every community and no one is immune to it. And because we cannot hold the batterer accountable in murder-suicide domestic violence cases, we must hold ourselves accountable as a community."

"Every day in the United States, an average of three women are killed by their intimate partners. In Rhode Island, between 2001 and 2011, 82 people died as a result of domestic violence. Between 2010 and 2011 alone, 20 of those deaths occurred. This year there have been three confirmed domestic violence deaths—two of them were murder-suicides. In 2011, there were four domestic violence deaths—three of those cases were murder-suicides. In addition, there are more than 10,000 victims who seek services yearly for domestic violence related issues. The good news is that through community involvement and education we can prevent those cases from escalating."

"Each of us has a duty to stop domestic violence in Rhode Island—together we can end it. There are six local domestic violence agencies in our state that provide a wide array of services, including 24 hour hotline support, emergency shelter, support groups and assistance with the legal system. We urge all Rhode Islanders to remember that if they hear or see someone being hurt to call 911 immediately. And, if they or someone they know needs support to call the statewide Helpline at 800-494-8100."

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