Number of domestic violence fatalities increases in Georgia
In 2017, Central Georgia accounted for about 9 percent of the state's domestic violence fatalities.
A growing problem
In 2017, 149 Georgians died from domestic violence.
According to statistics from the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, that's the state's highest number of domestic violence deaths since they began their study in 2003.
In 2012, Melanie Wolfe's daughter, Jessica, was one of those victims. She was an assistant at the Houston County District Attorney's Office, until she was shot and killed by her boyfriend, Russell Holt.
"I just remember dropping and getting sick, and it was just unbelievable," says Melanie.
Holt was a parole officer for the Department of Corrections. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
"He took his state-issued gun, fired 3 times, and shot her in the back. So she was running from him," says Melanie.
Jessica's death is just one of nearly 2,000 domestic violence fatalities in Georgia since 2003.
That's according to reports from the Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project.
Number of domestic violence deaths by year:
- 2003: 137
- 2004: 110
- 2005: 127
- 2006: 106
- 2007: 118
- 2008: 113
- 2009: 123
- 2010: 132
- 2011: 109
- 2012: 128
- 2013: 116
- 2014: 117
- 2015: 139
- 2016: 121
- 2017: 149
In 2017, there were 149 domestic violence deaths in Georgia -- 13 of them in Central Georgia. Bibb and Laurens counties topped that list with 3 fatalities each.
Jamie Borman is a legal advocacy director at Crisis Line and Safe House in Macon -- an organization providing services and shelter to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
"These are relationships that, over time, sometimes without the victim realizing it, become unhealthy and abusive," says Borman. "I've definitely noticed an increase in our services provided to victims of domestic violence."
She says perhaps that's because the number of domestic violence deaths in Georgia is up, or because more people have begun talking about the once-taboo topic.
"I think a lot of it has to do with social media -- the "#MeToo" movement -- the hashtag on twitter that was "#WhyIStayed" that really got a lot of people talking. I think we as a society talk about it more now," says Borman.
But it's something that Jessica Wolfe never talked about.
"I kind of blame myself, wondering, 'Did I miss things? Is there something that I could've helped prevent?'" says Melanie.
Borman says the most important thing domestic violence victims can do is reach out for help.
And while it's too late for Jessica, her mother says it's not too late for her to help others, which is why she now works as a manager at a Warner Robins domestic violence shelter.
"If I could help one woman, one family, to not be in the same situation that Jessica got in, then I've done good," says Melanie.
Melanie says she feels like she has the opportunity to make a difference in other young women's lives, and says she does "the best she can" to help every woman and child that passes through the shelter.
If you are in a threatening relationship or situation, you can call the 24-hour statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-33-HAVEN. Or if you are in Central Georgia, you can call the Crisis Line and Safe House number at 478-745-9292