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SALT LAKE CITY — Domestic violence returned to the Utah spotlight this weekend after three cases ended in two deaths and an arrest.
On Friday, Ogden Police responded to a domestic violence call and shot and killed a man they said refused to quit stabbing a woman.
On Sunday, Murray detectives said a man appeared to have taken his life after he tried to force his way into his ex-girlfriend's home, and then opened fire at officers when they responded.
On Monday, details emerged about another case Friday in Salt Lake City in which police said a man threatened several people with what turned out to be a pellet gun, and then took his estranged wife against her will and detained her for several hours.
"It seems like our cases are getting more and more lethal," said Utah Domestic Violence Coalition executive director Jenn Oxborrow.
Oxborrow pointed to statistics showing domestic violence-related deaths accounted for 47 percent of all homicides in Utah in 2015.
She said advocates are having a difficult time staying up with demand for their services because of limits to funding and resources.
"We're not keeping up, unfortunately," she said.
Oxborrow said there are only 16 organizations that provide victim services across the state's 29 counties, and the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual violence continue to rise.
"We see our unmet need growing every year, and often times that unmet need occurs in families where the lethal violence risk is really high," Oxborrow said.
Protective orders
A recent study by the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts found 92 percent of domestic violence defendants did not have protective orders filed against them.
"Less than 8 percent of those cases actually had an order of protection," Oxborrow said. "We're not seeing orders of protection happening nearly enough in these really high-risk cases."
Oxborrow explained it can be trying on domestic violence survivors to seek out protective orders on their own because the process can become confrontational, and that's a reason access to victim advocates is important.
"We want people to know there's always help available," Oxborrow said. "Even if it's difficult to find it, please don't give up and please reach out to us so we can help."
Oxborrow said those in need of assistance can call 1-800-897-LINK (5465).
- The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition has a statewide, 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence at 1-800-897-LINK (5465).
- The Division of Child and Family Services offers counseling, teaches parenting skills and conflict resolution and can connect the family with community resources. Their goal is to keep children with their family when it is "possible and safe," according to their website. Visit dcfs.utah.gov/questions/or call 1-855-323-DCFS (3237) for resources or to report child abuse or neglect.
- The Christmas Box House acts as a temporary shelter for children and can provide them with new clothing and shoes, among other services. Call the Salt Lake office at 801-747-2201 or the Ogden office at 801-866-0350.
