She was at work on a Tuesday evening. Her opportunities were limited, but she needed to support her children and found a second-shift job at a large Indianapolis-area distribution center.
That Tuesday evening, she and a co-worker were in the distribution center’s parking lot when a car pulled in. Her husband got out of the car and ran across the parking lot toward her. By the time she noticed the gun, it was too late. Her husband fired the gun, and she and her co-worker were struck and fell to the ground. Her husband raced away. The next day, the co-worker died from his injuries.
When the detectives questioned her, she told them that her abusive husband knew she was planning to leave and wanted to stop her. Earlier that day, he broke her phone and stole her identification to keep her from being able to escape. He has been charged with murder and several other felony crimes.
The story shocked the workers at the distribution center and residents of the normally sleepy community, but those of us who work to prevent domestic violence weren’t surprised. Once a woman makes an effort to leave her abuser, the possibility for violence increases dramatically.
To understand why, you have to realize that domestic violence is all about power and control. The abuser uses threats and abuse to maintain control over the victim. If the victim says she’s going to leave, or actually does escape from the situation, the abuser has lost control. Desperation quickly turns to intensified violence as he frantically tries to regain control.
That’s why it isn’t enough for victims to get away from their abusers. They’re still at risk, no matter where they may be, and the abuser will stop at nothing to get to them. To truly safeguard the victims, steps must be taken to provide additional protection — whether that’s the security of a place like Sheltering Wings or a workplace that controls access and creates procedures to protect employees who may be in danger. It’s particularly important in the workplace, because the abuser knows exactly where the victim can be found during working hours.
What can you do to provide that extra layer of protection? If you’re helping a friend or loved one who is being abused move to safety, ensure that he or she is never alone or in a place where the abuser can reach. Sheltering Wings can give you information about developing a safety plan. And if you work for a company that doesn’t already have a plan for protecting victims, urge your supervisor or the HR department to learn more and develop a plan. Companies protect workers from all sorts of threats — and domestic violence should be no exception.
