Intimate Partner Violence Claimed 39 Lives In Minnesota Last Year, Most On Record

Thirty-nine people died in situations of intimate partner violence in the state last year, the most in more than three decades of tracking such cases, Violence Free Minnesota said Thursday.

There wasn’t a ready explanation for the increase. The cases varied from women and men allegedly killed by a current or former romantic partner, to people who died as bystanders or intervenors to domestic violence, to homicides that happened during sex work or a sexual act.

“At the same time as violent crime is dropping in Minnesota and around the country … this is the highest rates that we’ve had,” said Guadalupe Lopez, Violence Free Minnesota’s executive director.

She said it demonstrates how pervasive domestic violence is “and how it continues to be an issue affecting every community, across our state and our nation.”

The previous high was 37 homicides in 2013. Minnesota averaged 26 victims of intimate partner violence annually in the decade between 2013 and 2022, according to Violence Free Minnesota data.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said Thursday’s memorial was “a stark and gut-wrenching reminder of the work that we must do together to disrupt the cycle of violence.”

Minnesota has invested in the state’s Office of Justice Programs by providing grants to organizations that provide services to crime victims. And a new law means the office can now reimburse health care providers for the costs of sexual assault examination kits, “an important step forward in ensuring victims … are not charged for medical examinations,” Flanagan said.

Violence Free Minnesota’s legislative priorities include seeking increased funding for crime victim services.

While there was a $32 million increase from the state for crime victim services last year, there was an $11 million cut in federal funds and more federal cuts are expected, “so we haven’t actually had a significant increase in our budgets in 10 years,” said Jess Palyan, Violence Free Minnesota policy program manager.

Violence Free Minnesota has more than 90 member programs across the state, in every county. Lopez stressed the importance of community-based advocacy programs in helping people trying to escape violence, but she said employees are overworked.

Flanagan, who said she witnessed domestic violence as a child, said it was such domestic abuse advocates who “saved the life of my mother.”

Lives remembered

Staff of Violence Free Minnesota read the 39 victims’ names aloud. Some families in attendance wore memorial T-shirts for their loved ones.

Antonio Levar Moore’s mother’s shirt said, “Forever in our hearts.” The 37-year-old left behind two daughters.

In May, Moore confronted his sister’s former boyfriend, Demetrius Lamar Harris, after Harris punched her in her face in Brooklyn Center, according to a criminal complaint. The men fought, and Harris fatally stabbed Moore.

Stacia Schnoor also attended the memorial, with a photo of her daughter Sabrina Schnoor on her shirt. The 25-year-old was found fatally shot under an Interstate 35 overpass in Owatonna in May and her former boyfriend is charged.

Schnoor has since started the Sabrina Lee Foundation for domestic abuse victims and she said she’s been learning the dynamics of domestic violence.

“One of the biggest things I thought before was, ‘If it’s so bad, why doesn’t she just leave?” Stacia Schnoor said, saying she now understands how hard that is to do, but she wants people to know there are ways out.

“If you’re in the same situation, I know you’re terrified, I know you are afraid for your life, but there are people who can help you with that and keep you safe,” Schnoor said.

Domestic violence help

Help is available 24/7 through the Day One hotline by calling 866-223-1111 or texting 612-399-9995.

SOURCE: PIONEER PRESS via Yahoo! news