Those paying attention to the news recently learned about the unthinkable when five people were found dead inside a home on Lake Minnetonka in the city of Greenwood.
While investigation into the deaths continues, we are sure of one thing to date: Karen Short, age 48, and her children 17-year-old Cole, 15-year-old Madison and 14-year-old Brooklyn Short were killed in their bedrooms, each being shot in the head. Brian Short, the husband of Karen Short and father of the three children, was found dead in a garage at the home, the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Shorts were victims of familicide, a form of murder-suicide in which at least one spouse and one or more children are killed. There have been similar events in recent years that should be cause for alarm.
In 2012 in Minnesota, seven people were murdered by family members who then turned a gun on himself or herself in a murder suicide, according to the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women. That number grew to nine in 2013 and dropped to six in 2014.
On April 8, 2014, tragedy hit Waconia when 62-year-old Beverly Gongoll was found dead in her home, the victim of an apparent gunshot. Her husband, Kenneth Gongoll, 62, was also found in the home, dead of a gunshot wound. Authorities believe that Kenneth Gongoll first killed his wife before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide.
On Dec. 29, 2014, in Plymouth, Susan M. James, 59, was found dead in her home during a welfare check after not showing up at work for a number of days. Susan James died of a gunshot wound to the head. Her husband, David G. James, was also found dead in the home.
On Jan. 18, 2015, in Apple Valley, the bodies of Komel Crowley, her husband David T. Crowley and their 5-year-old daughter, Raniya, were discovered in their Apple Valley home. Initial reports indicate that Komel and Raniya were murdered and David Crowley died of a self-inflicted gunshot. It appears that the murders-suicide occurred sometime in December 2014.
As of late September, the number of people in Minnesota killed by a family member in a domestic assault stood at 22, according to Judy Pearson, director of the Pearl Crisis Center. The Mille Lacs County-based organization supports victims of domestic abuse and tracks those killed at the hands of domestic abuse. That figure includes the Sept. 12 death of Larry Bowser, who was shot and killed by his 91-year-old father Kenneth Bowser in their Maplewood home.
When domestic violence ends in death, that’s the extreme. However, other forms of domestic violence, whether physical or emotional, are taking place around us at all times. Domestic violence is real. It is ugly, abusive and destroys both families and relationships. And to be clear, domestic violence is never acceptable or justifiable.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence shared some startling statistics as it gears up for October’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
• Every 9 seconds, a U.S. woman is beaten or assaulted.
• Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women, more than car accidents, muggings or rapes.
• Studies suggest that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually.
• Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm in a break-up situation.
• Every day in the U.S., more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.
How do we save victims of domestic violence? How do we as a society do more to deal with those who would hurt and even kill their children, spouses or significant others?
The key is awareness and not being afraid to have a voice for yourself if you are a victim of domestic abuse or speaking out for others if you observe signs of abuse.
There are many resources available to help victims of domestic assault. The Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women has a 24-hour hotline available at 866-223-1111. Shelter or direct advocacy services can be obtained in Anoka County by calling the crisis lines of Alexandra House at 763-780-2332. In Carver County, services are available through the Sexual Violence Center Crisis Line at 612-871-5111; and the Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women Carver Crisis Line at 612-873-4214.
Shelter or direct advocacy services can be obtained in Isanti County and Chisago County through Anna Marie’s Alliance, Crisis Line, 800-950-2203 and The Refuge Network, where the crisis line is 800-338-7233. Dakota County has services available through the Lewis House, a part of 360 Communities. The crisis line at Lewis House is 800-336-7233. Those needing help in the Caledonia readership area can contact Bluff Country Family Resources, Inc. The crisis line is 800-367-4297.
For those in Mille Lacs County, services can be obtained through the Pearl Crisis Center. The crisis line is 800-933-6914. Also providing services is Anna Marie’s Alliance by calling 800-950-2203. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe provides help to abuse victims as well. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Family Violence Prevention Program can be contacted through a crisis line at 866-867-4006. In the Little Falls area in Morrison County, shelter and advocacy services can be obtained through Hands of Hope Resource Center. Its crisis line can be reached at 888-454-4878.
Support services for Sherburne County and Wright County victims can be obtained through Anna Marie’s Alliance’s Crisis Line at 800-950-2203 and the Rivers of Hope Crisis Line at 763-295-3433.
In Hennepin County, some of the many organizations providing shelter or advocacy services include: Bloomington-based Cornerstone Advocacy Center (Crisis Line: 952-884-0330); Domestic Abuse Project (Crisis Line: 612-874-7063); the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office Domestic Abuse Service Center (Business Line: 612-348-5073); Oasis of Love (Crisis Line: 612-529-6055); Park Nicollet Health Services and AdvoCare (Crisis Line: 952-993-6670); Safe Journey at North Memorial (Crisis Line: 763-581-3940); and the Hopkins-based Sojourner Project (Crisis Line: 952-933-7422.
Asian Women United of MN at 612-724-8823; Casa De Esperanza at 651-772-1611 and the Asian Indian Family Wellness Crisis Line at 952-912-9100 also provide advocacy services to abuse victims through the Twin Cities area.
If you are in an abusive relationship or struggling with violent tendencies or thoughts, get help. If you know someone facing this terrifying situation, offer your help. Acknowledging that there is a problem may the first step to preventing another horrible tragedy.
– An opinion of the ECM Editorial Board