Trevor Clark/Nevada Appeal photo illustration Silhouetted figures representing women who were killed by domestic violence are part of a domestic violence display shown at the Carson City courthouse on Monday. The women represented by the figures are Dana Montague, Tyeshia Davis and Sylvia Mendoza, all killed in 1995 by their partners.
The haunting display at the Carson City courthouse has nothing to do with Halloween - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
"The Silent Witness Exhibit" consists of silhouettes with the name of people who were murdered by their intimate male partners during 1995. The exhibit is up through Friday.
Frankee Haynes of Advocates to End Domestic Violence, who helps victims through the paperwork of restraining orders and other issues, has set up the display on the third floor of 885 E. Musser St.
The exhibit includes 19 life-size, wooden female silhouettes ("witnesses") that are painted red and bear the name and story of a murdered woman. A 20th witness represents the uncounted women whose deaths were unreported or unacknowledged.
"They are going all over the state being displayed," Haynes said. "We want the community to see them at the courthouse."
According to the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence, 38,297 people in Nevada received services from domestic violence programs during 2006. And on the average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States every day.
Being a victim's advocate, Haynes helps a victim get services such as shelter, clothing, temporary protective orders, restraining orders, stalking orders and referrals that come from all kinds of sources like judges, the district attorney and the sheriff's office.
Lisa Lee, director of Advocates to End Domestic Violence, said she wants the community to understand domestic violence doesn't have to end tragically.
"There are services and places to help a family make a change for the positive," Lee said. "It's beyond a scary leap to leave everything you know and strike out on your own. You're leaving all your hopes and dreams, everything you've invested in."
Lee said where she sees someone making the decision to leave an abusive situation happens when their children become involved.
"So often, women believe it's their fault, that they deserve the abuse because of something they may or may not have done," Lee said.
"But they know their kids didn't deserve it. That's another reason they'll stay (in the relationship). They can be there to protect the children."
Lee said even if a victim needs someone to just talk to, to reassure them they're not crazy, they can call the Advocates hotline.
"The hard part of this is seeing how many women are killed every day," Lee said.
Advocates to End Domestic Violence, a nonprofit group, is making an effort to let the community know it can help. From restraining orders to shelter and clothing, that "first call" to the 24-hour crisis line could make the difference between life and death.
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Advocates has placed purple ribbons along South Carson Street and is selling hand-made purple ribbons at Sugar Pine Cove and Home Treasures for $10.
For information, call 883-7654.
• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.
NEEDHELP?
WHO: Advocates to End Domestic Violence
WHERE: Carson City and surrounding areas
WHEN: 24-hour hotline
CALL: 883-7654
WEB SITE: www.aedv.org
Domestic Violence in Nevada - 2006
38,297 people in Nevada received services from domestic violence programs during 2006.
20 percent of victims contacting a domestic violence program received assistance preparing a Protection Order against the batterer.
28 percent of the women and children who called a program for assistance went for counseling or a support group.
34 percent of the victims contacting a domestic violence program in Nevada had children who also received services.
39 percent of victims who contacted a domestic violence program for assistance reported they also contacted law enforcement.
1,918 adults and 1,472 children sought shelter in fiscal year 2006, and were provided with 57,637 emergency shelter and 2,455 transitional housing bed-nights.
Domestic Violence in the United States
In a national survey of more than 6,000 American families, 50 percent of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children.
Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point.
On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the U.S. every day.
Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend per year to 3 million women who are physically abused by their husband or boyfriend per year.
Three in four women (76 percent) who reported they had been physically and/or sexually assaulted since 18 said that a current or former husband, cohabiting partner or date had committed the assault.
Some victims who died in Nevada in 2006:
Unidentified woman, 21, Las Vegas, Jan. 4
Charles Francis Simms Jr., 45, Jan. 21
Debbie Kay Schnueringer, 44, Stead, March 26
Kimberly Corchoran, 41, Las Vegas, May 3
Heather Deyerle, 24, Dayton, May 4
Elena Marga, unknown, Las Vegas, June 5
Charla Mack, 39, Reno, June 12
Travhan Fields, 20, Las Vegas, July 6
Kathy Augustine, 50, Reno, July 11
Everilda Durran Watson, 50, Las Vegas, July 13
Steve Carter, unknown, Las Vegas, Aug. 7
Laurie Jean Lawrence, 42, Reno, date of death unknown
Donald Metz, unknown, Pahrump, Sept. 10
Unidentified woman, unknown, Las Vegas, Sept. 26
Jazmin Gonzalez Morgado, 22, Stateline, Nov. 19