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Articles About Domestic Violence
Domestic violence court a solid recommendation
| Members
of the law enforcement subcommittee of the city's crime task force met Thursday to discuss several recommendations. Among
those was a recommendation to create a separate court to deal specifically with domestic violence issues. That's a reasonable
recommendation that deserves to be tried.
Other cities in Tennessee, including Memphis, have already created domestic violence
courts. And there can be little doubt that we need one here. According to Margaret Cole, executive director of the Wo/Men's
Resource and Rape Assistance Program, her agency already sees a large number of domestic violence cases.
Creating
a separate court to deal with domestic violence offers several advantages. First,
it would help relieve the pressure on General Sessions Court. According to Jackson Police Chief Rick Staples, the court is
overwhelmed by its caseload.
Second, a separate court would make it easier to deal with a huge and complex problem.
With a separate court, judges could afford to take more time to deal with cases on a more individualized basis. They would,
for example, have more time to craft sentences that more exactly fit the crime.
Most important, a domestic violence court would make it easier to track offenders, to
see if they reoffend.
But a domestic violence court is only one part of dealing with this problem. Roger Wright,
a West Tennessee Legal Services victims' advocate, is right to suggest that victims be told where their abusers are working
in the community. And Jackson-Madison County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nancy Zambito is right to accentuate the education
aspect of this problem, recommending that resources be dedicated to providing programs for keeping kids pointed in the right
direction and away from violence.
Domestic violence is a big problem in our community, and there's not a "silver bullet"
that will help solve it. Still, a domestic violence court is a reasonable recommendation and a step in the right direction.
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Recent Articles
Plea deal ends baby rape case
Carroll Co. man will be out of jail by next month
| HUNTINGDON,
TN. - District Attorney General Hansel McCadams said "serious flaws" in the evidence against Jonathan Wayne Goodrum led
to a plea agreement shortly before Goodrum was to be tried on charges that he raped the infant daughter of his ex-fiancee.
The incident is said to have occurred at McKenzie Regional Hospital on March 24, 2006,
when the baby girl was only 1 day old.
"It
was my decision as district attorney general to negotiate this plea after consulting officers and the victim's guardian (who
is not the mother)," McCadams said. "The judge accepted it, after I informed him (about the flaws)."
Goodrum, 20, appeared before Carroll County Circuit Court Judge Donald E. Parish on
Thursday and pleaded guilty to attempt to commit rape of a child, a class B felony.
He was sentenced to 10 years, with all but one year of the sentence suspended. McCadams
said Goodrum would not agree to a plea that involved a longer jail sentence.
Goodrum, who is still in the Carroll County Jail, has already served more than 11 months
since his arrest, and that will count toward the one year of jail time. He will be released by early next month, or sooner
if he receives credit for good behavior, McCadams said.
Goodrum will spend the remaining nine years of his sentence in a community corrections
program, which McCadams said is more intensive than regular state probation. He said it is "the highest level of community
supervision that we have in Tennessee."
Goodrum also will have to register with the state as a sex offender and submit to DNA
analysis. He will be under lifetime supervision as a sex offender and is not to have contact with the victim unless a juvenile
court rules that he can.
Goodrum's sentence also requires him to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Jim Jackson, in Martin,
at his own expense, until Jackson says Goodrum no longer has to.
McCadams said he decided to offer the plea agreement to "protect the child in the future,
to protect the community and to hold the defendant responsible for any involvement he had in the injuries.
"What we didn't want to happen was that we go to a jury trial and the jury find him
not guilty because we didn't have the proof," he said. "Then we wouldn't have only lost the case, but we would have lost the
right to have him registered as a sex offender, the nine years of supervised probation and the lifetime sex offender supervision."
The baby's mother, Kristina Louise Sawyer, 19, also entered a guilty plea Thursday to
a class A misdemeanor charge of violation of duty to report child sexual abuse.
She was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail, with all but 60 days of that sentence
suspended.
Already having served more than 60 days, she is free and will be on supervised probation
for the remainder of her sentence.
Sawyer must also obey restrictions placed on her by the Tennessee Department of Children's
Services. Sawyer's attorney, Steven West, said he does not know what those restrictions are, but does know that Sawyer has
always cooperated with authorities.
"Ms. Sawyer cooperated from the very beginning," West said Thursday night. "We were
simply waiting to enter the plea. I assume that she's now working on the Department of Children's Services' plan, which reunites
parents with their child in cases like these, but I don't represent her in that case so I don't know."
Goodrum and Sawyer were arrested in April and both were originally charged with rape
of a child, a class A felony, which carries a sentence of 15 to 60 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Sawyer reached her plea agreement on the lesser charge last year on the condition that
she would testify against Goodrum if necessary.
Goodrum and Sawyer were arrested after McKenzie Regional Hospital officials notified
police that they had discovered tears in the baby's private area during a routine examination prior to the infant's release.
Police said the injuries were made with an unknown object.
The infant and Sawyer's other daughter, who was 1 year old at the time, were being cared
for by a relative following the arrests. |
Vigils Across N.C. Bring Domestic Violence To Spotlight
RALEIGH, N.C. June 10,2005 -- Several vigils across the state
put a spotlight on domestic violence Friday.
Across the state, domestic violence support groups
made their sobering point. At one vigil, a bell rang for each of the 21 domestic violence-related murders in North Carolina
so far this year.
Just last month, police said a man shot his girlfriend
at a Raleigh hotel before turning the gun on himself. In another case, just a few days apart, police said the estranged husband
of Dujuana Massenburg chased her down in his car and then beat her to death.
"I was able to get out of my situation, but for people
like her, and others that have died because of domestic violence, they don't have the opportunity to stand here," said Malessia
Godwin, a survivor of domestic abuse.
Survivors and supporters made emotional pleas for more
help, but admit stronger laws are not the only answer.
"Just writing law isn't going to solve the problem,'
said Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake County. "We need laws for what happens after domestic violence -- the punishment portion."
Last session, lawmakers wrote about a dozen new laws
related to domestic violence. One bill currently sitting in the state Senate would allow domestic violence victims to get
a temporary permit to carry a concealed weapon.
Some counselors say the proposed bill would only make
the problem worse. They say funding is what is really needed.
"We need a lot invested in programs that help ramp
up prevention," Ross said.
The state will invest millions in programs to educate
law enforcement officers and to treat abusers while they are behind bars.
Ten of the 21 murders that have happened across the
state in 2005 occurred in May. In 19 cases, the victim was a female; 14 were shot and five were beaten.
Across the state, domestic violence support groups
made their sobering point. At one vigil, a bell rang for each of the 21 domestic violence-related murders in North Carolina
so far this year.
Just last month, police said a man shot his girlfriend
at a Raleigh hotel before turning the gun on himself. In another case, just a few days apart, police said the estranged husband
of Dujuana Massenburg chased her down in his car and then beat her to death.
"I was able to get out of my situation, but for people
like her, and others that have died because of domestic violence, they don't have the opportunity to stand here," said Malessia
Godwin, a survivor of domestic abuse.
Survivors and supporters made emotional pleas for more
help, but admit stronger laws are not the only answer.
"Just writing law isn't going to solve the problem,'
said Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake County. "We need laws for what happens after domestic violence -- the punishment portion."
Last session, lawmakers wrote about a dozen new laws
related to domestic violence. One bill currently sitting in the state Senate would allow domestic violence victims to get
a temporary permit to carry a concealed weapon.
Some counselors say the proposed bill would only make
the problem worse. They say funding is what is really needed.
"We need a lot invested in programs that help ramp
up prevention," Ross said.
The state will invest millions in programs to educate
law enforcement officers and to treat abusers while they are behind bars.
Ten of the 21 murders that have happened across the
state in 2005 occurred in May. In 19 cases, the victim was a female; 14 were shot and five were beaten.
Court upholds death sentence
NASHVILLE -- The state's highest court on Friday upheld the death sentence of a Montgomery County
man convicted of raping and killing a 9-year-old girl.
William Glenn Rogers was sentenced to die in the 1996 kidnapping, rape and murder of Jackie Beard,
who was abducted while picking blackberries near her house. Rogers had a long criminal history -- including alleged sexual
assaults on children -- before being convicted of murder and rape.
Her remains were found four months later at the Land Between the Lakes natural area nearly 50 miles
away.
Rogers, who originally denied involvement and then said he accidentally ran over the girl, argued
that the evidence presented at his trial was insufficient to support his convictions.
"Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the state, we conclude that the proof points
the finger of guilt unerringly at Rogers and Rogers alone," Justice Janice M. Holder wrote for the 4-1 Supreme Court majority.
North Carolina Signs
New Bill
 Gov. Mark Sanford on Tuesday signed a bill, June 7,2005, imposing mandatory minimum
sentences for more serious criminal domestic violence offenses.
The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, imposes a
minimum sentence of 30 days for second offenses and one year for third and subsequent offenses and criminal domestic violence
of a high and aggravated nature.
It also sets higher
fines for first and second offenses and makes third and subsequent offenses a felony. Judges will be required to undergo training
in domestic violence issues under the new law.
Man Indicted on Murder Charge
Police say Humboldt, Tn. resident killed Trenton woman, burned body
A Humboldt man has been indicted in the death of 27- year-old Sara Summer
Hinson, whose body was found charred in a van last September, stated Sherriff Shepard.
Her ex-boyfriend has been arrested in the incident after a secret indictment
Monday by the Humboldt Grand Jury. He is being charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and burned
personal property/ land.
Hinson was reported missing September 7, 2005 after she did not pick up her
three children from her mother's house in Humboldt. At the time, family friends said Hinson dropped off her three sons, ages,
8, 6 and 5, about 5 p.m. Sept. 6 to run an errand, but she never came back.
Her van and badly burned body was discovered Sept. 12 behind a cornfield
off White Brothers Road in Gibson County. Shepard would not say how Hinson was killed.
(Discovered by Susan Moore, 3/27/05)
Arrest Made In Mother, Son Homicide
In Tennessee, the bodies
of Laurie Tegethoff and her son were discovered in the the Obion River. A diaper bag that contained Ms. Tegethoff's wallet
was found by two fishermen. This led officers to search the stream. The autopsy reavealed that
the baby died of drowning. However, the cause of death of Ms. Tegethoff was inconclusive. The ex-boyfriend
was arrested by the Carrol County Sheriff and charged after giving a confession.
(Discovered by Susan
M.,)
Man Sought In Murder, Turns Himself In
Betty Jo Crocker, 59,
was discovered murdered by her son. The Carroll County Sheriff said that Ms. Crocker died
of stab wounds. He said that we believe a confrontation between Ms. Crocker and her ex-husband took place at the front of
the residence. Ms.Crocker was stabbed and then attempted to escape by running into a field
where she fell and died. After a T.B.I warning and bulletin the ex-husband turned himself in to
the Sheriff's Department.
(Discovered by Susan M., TN)
New Federal Rules Gather Data About Battered
Women
Domestic violence groups around the country
are protesting new federal laws that require detailed information on tens of thousands of battered women, to be
collected on centeralized computers, potentially making sensitive data accessible to , resourceful batterers they say.
Such information has traditionally been kept confidential by domestic violence agencies out of concern that the identities and
locations of the women could be discovered by their abusers. Placing information on centralized computers would make it accessiable
to a wide range of authorized and unauthorized users, the group argued.
(New York Times 10/08/04)
Poll Finds Domestic Violence Is Women's
Main Concern
Ninety two per-cent of American women ranked
domestic and sexual abuse as one of their top priorities. One out of every three women has experienced at least
one physical assault by a partner during adulthood.
(American Psycological Association)
Husband Guns Down Wife At TDOT Garage
Three people were killed and
two injured when a man opened fire on his estranged wife, Donna Renee Jordon, inside a Tennessee Deptartment of Transportation
maintenance garage. Policed arrested the accused shooter around noon without incident. Police
believe it was just a half hour earlier when the shooter arrived at the workplace of 31 year old Donna Renee Jordon and opened
fire_ killing her inside her office, and two others. The two injured are still in the hospital under guarded condition. Jordon is being held in the Madison County Justice Complex on three charges
of homicide and two of attempted murder. Police recovered an SKS assault rifle, clips with live
ammunition, a 12-gauge shotgun and two semi-automatic handguns. The couple had a history of domestic
calls to the Madison County Sheriff's Department.
(Discovered
By Susan Moore, 1/11/05)
Man Arrested After Setting Self On Fire
Doused estranged wife with gasoline, police say.
Springdale, Ark.--- A man who police say apparently set himself on fire
after dousing and himself and his estranged wife with gasoline is being investigated for aggravated assault on his wife, police
say. He got into an argument with his wife, Vicki Pierce, at her apartment Saturday and poured gasoline on the both of
them. Police say Vicki was able to get back inside her apartment and shut Pierce out. Pierce went to his car, got
a cigarette and lighter and tried to light the cigerette. He cought fire and started running, apartment residents put
the fire out. When police arrived he was banding on his wife's door, his clothes still smoldering. He was taken to the local
Medical center, where he is in critical condition.
(Discovered by Susan Moore, 2/1/05)
Father Charged With Murdering Daughter
Body of girl,7 found in church school restroom
Highland Falls, N.Y.--- A father was charged with murder hours
after his 7-year-old daughter was found stabbed to death in the boys' restroom at her small parochial school. The body was
dicovered not long after classes started Thursday at Sacred Heart of Jesus School in this
Hudson Valley village. Her father was arrested that night and held without bail.
(Discovered by Susan Moore,
(2/1/05)
Man kills wife, fatally
shoots himself as daughters look on
COLUMBUS, Ohio Police say a man shot and killed his
wife before killing himself at a shopping center as the couple's two teenage daughters looked on.
Investigators in Columbus, Ohio, say Delmar Sayre was waiting in the parking lot
as Ernestine Sayre and their daughters left a movie theater last night. They say the couple fought before Delmar Sayre shot
his wife several times then shot himself.
Police say the couple was having problems but they didn't elaborate.
There were several witnesses, including the daughters, ages 15 and 17. They're
now staying with relatives.
23-year-old mother killed in apparent domestic
dispute
Celia
Kilburn heard a loud noise Sunday afternoon, 6/3/07, seconds before she opened the door to her brother's Dyer home. There
in the doorway she saw a man with a gun and her niece lying on the living room floor.
Her niece, 23-year-old Jody Lynn Alford, was shot to death in an apparent domestic dispute,
Dyer police Sgt. Rodney Wilkins said. Police are holding the father of Alford's 7-month old son as a suspect in the slaying,
Wilkins said Monday. But no charges had been filed Monday.
The suspect was identified as Billy Earl McIll-wain Jr., 27, of Jackson, Tn. Wilkins said police
expect to formally charge McIllwain today in connection with Alford's death. The shooting occurred at 232 Linden St. where Alford had lived with her father, Tommy Alford, and stepmother
for the last two months, Kilburn said. Tommy Alford is Kilburn's brother.
She described Jody Alford as someone who was "full of life.
"To me, she was the happiest she's ever been in her life," Kilburn said. "She didn't deserve
that."
An autopsy on Alford was expected to be completed Monday, Wilkins said. He declined to reveal
where on her body she was shot.
Funeral arrangements for Alford were pending Monday at Karnes & Son Funeral Home in Dyer.
Kilburn said she saw McIllwain with a gun when she opened her brother's front door. She fled
the house screaming for help when he pointed the weapon at her, Kilburn added.
Kilburn lives near her brother at 246 Linden St.
Kilburn said Jody Alford phoned her at 12:35 p.m. Sunday to let her know that she'd gotten
back from the grocery store. She was planning to come by Kilburn's house after feeding her son, Kilburn added.
Kilburn decided after eating her lunch to walk to her brother's house instead to check on Jody
Alford. McIllwain's truck was in the yard, she said.
McIllwain and Alford were no longer together as a couple, Kilburn said. He'd threatened to
hurt Alford before, she added. Alford had taken out an order of protection against McIllwain but later withdrew it, Kilburn
said.
Police received a call shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday of a gunshot at the Linden Street address,
Wilkins said. They responded and found Alford, he added.
Police believe McIllwain and Alford had argued and that he shot her and fled the scene, Wilkins
said. McIllwain turned himself in to Kenton police within 30 minutes of the shooting, Wilkins said.
Jody Alford and the couple's son were the only ones at the Linden Street residence at the time
of the shooting, Wilkins added.
Dyer Police Chief Brad Lindsey on Monday said a protection order involving the couple had been
obtained in Madison County but was then canceled.
Kilburn said Jody Alford told her that she dropped the protection order because she would have
had to violate it to keep tabs on her son when it was McIllwain's weekend to have the child.
She also figured that a piece of paper wouldn't stop McIllwain from killing her if he really
wanted to, Kilburn added.
"I don't think she really thought he was coming yesterday because he'd threatened her so many
times before," Kilburn said.
Margaret Cole, executive director of the West Tennessee Wo/Men's Resource and Rape Assistance
Program, said the group encourages domestic violence victims to get orders of protection because they are a legal remedy.
But victims have to make that decision for themselves, she said.
Some victims are afraid to get one because they believe it might further incite their abuser,
Cole added. She did not understand what Jody Alford meant by her concern she might violate the order by calling to check on
her son.
"I'm just sorry that another young woman has lost her life and that another young boy has lost
his mother to domestic violence," Cole said. "... We always wonder, is there something more we could have done to reach that
person.
"We do want people to know that we are here, and we will do everything we can to support them
and make them as safe as humanly possible," Cole said.
Kilburn said she'd become close to her niece. She described Jody Alford as a good mother who
was "crazy about her baby.
"She was just a precious person," Kilburn added.
Peace is so beneficial that the word itself
is pleasant to hear. - Cicero |
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