The women of whom I speak stay when they should leave. They repeatedly call police to come to their rescue after their partner’s anger erupts. Then, they repeatedly refuse to press charges. These abused and humiliated women forget the panic they felt at the moment they scrambled to the phone and dialed 9-11 for help. They imagine they can’t possibly make it in life without their abusive mate. They’re caught in a terrible cycle of co-dependent violence.
Abusers Escalate the Violence - Some Murder
The harsh reality is that when one of these women fails to follow through by pressing charges she may be sealing a death warrant for others who will cross paths with the lout later.
Case in point: Jeffrey Maxwell of Corsicana, Texas. In 1987, he was arrested for slitting his wife’s throat. He never went to trial because Martha Martinez Maxwell returned home and declined to cooperate with prosecutors. Five years later Martha mysteriously disappeared.
Now – 24 years after the vicious attack on his wife – Mr. Maxwell is once again in trouble for assaulting a woman. Police traced his car to the home of a kidnap victim. When they arrived at Maxwell’s house to question him officers found the missing woman who had been shackled, sexually abused and badly beaten during her 13 days in captivity. Maxwell, known for his charity work and as an officer in his local Kiwanis Club, is now charged with kidnapping and rape.
If only Martha had pressed charges! Police now suspect she was murdered by Maxwell and they’re trying to prove that. They also believe he is to blame for the disappearance of a third woman, Amelia Smith, who went missing in 2000 and is also presumed dead.
Officer Alain Schaberger Died on the Job
Another example: George Villanueva is a career thug with 28 priors including three open cases of battering his girlfriend, Kim Dykstra. Police in Brooklyn, New York responded at least a dozen of Kim’s calls for help. Every time Villanueva was arrested and jailed for assaulting her Kim signed an affidavit saying she would not testify against him. In mid-March Kim called police a final time saying George was threatening to kill her. When police moved in to arrest Villanueva a violent scuffle on his raised stoop ended with veteran officer Alain Schaberger being shoved over a nine foot high railing. He broke his neck and died a short time later. Villanueva is now charged with aggravated murder.
If only Kim had found the courage and self-esteem to press charges!
Every cop on the beat will tell you the most dangerous call they get involves domestic violence, the most heartbreaking DV calls are the ones that include children. Anger mixed with passion can be a deadly combination. In candid moments officers might admit they’d like to ignore the 911 calls from women like Martha and d
Victims Need Compassion - Victims Can Help Themselves
Kim, those who routinely flake out when it comes time to testify.