Domestic violence deaths in Kansas are on the rise
Updated: Dec 15, 2009 05:11 PM
By ELIZABETH MATTHEWS
Nearly ten years ago Rebecca Reedy's 21 year old daughter died in a murder-suicide. Andrea Reedy died at the hands of her estranged husband.
Today, Rebecca is the executive director of the Crisis Resource Center, which has domestic violence safe-homes in Pittsburg and Coffeyville.
"I hooked up with the agency as a way to work through the situation that I was dealing with," Rebecca told us. "It's a dedication to my daughter really."
With nearly 20 beds total, those shelters have been full nearly all year, and Reedy says she is not surprised by a recent announcement saying 45 Kansas have died in domestic violence cases... 32 adults and 13 children have died... the worst in 17 years, and it's only mid-December.
Reedy says the increase could be caused by the poor economic situation.
"It puts a lot of stress on the families and we've seen the violence escalate," Reedy says. "What might have started out as pushing and shoving has become threats of death."
While there have been few domestic violence deaths in our area the cases have been more severe.
"We've had constant calls," Reedy tells us. "Sometimes we were getting three calls a day for shelter. So yes, we have seen it increase and sadly we just don't have enough beds for all those people that need it."
Last year 19 adults and 14 children died.
For more information visit the following web sites:
- http://www.mocadsv.org/
- http://www.kcsdv.org/
- http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/
- http://www.crisisresourcecenter.org/
