The Ugly Truth - Domestic Violence Claims 166 Lives in PA in 2011

 Last year, 166 people lost their lives to domestic violence. Just in Pennsylvania. That’s approximately one every other day.

The statistics are unsettling. An Associated Press report reveals that 1 of 4 women say they’ve been victims of domestic abuse at some point in their lives.

The numbers sound high – to everyone except those who work with the victims.

The stats also include a number of men and children.

In Pennsylvania, domestic violence victims included 60 adult females, 45 adult males and 13 children and teens. The youngest victim was just 1; the oldest 90 years of age.

Of the perpetrators, 38 committed suicide and 10 were killed by police or others. The youngest was 16; the oldest 92.

Of the domestic violence deaths, 66% were by gun. One was shot and set on fire, one was shot and bludgeoned with a hammer, and one was shot and stabbed.

Another 33 individuals were stabbed, 4 were strangled, and 3 were beaten. Three were bludgeoned with a baseball bat, 1 was strangled and their throat slashed, 1 was stabbed and their throat slashed, 1 suffered blunt head trauma, 1 died of carbon monoxide poisoning, 1 was strangled then suffered blunt head force trauma and cardio arrest, 1 was run over by a car and 1 was shot with an arrow from a crossbow.

Four victims and one perpetrator were pregnant at the time, 2 fatalities occurred on Valentine’s Day, 1 on Thanksgiving and 1 on Christmas. One victim was a police officer, 2 perpetrators were police officers. Thirteen victims were 65 or older, including 6 who were 80 or older. There were 4 incidents involving teen dating violence and of the youngest victims, 3 were killed by their mothers, 5 by their father’s, 2 by their mother’s boyfriend. Another was killed by a male teen who had a crush on his victim, 1 was killed by an ex-boyfriend, and 1 was caught in crossfire between two brothers.

As you can see, domestic violence touches all ages and occurs in what we consider the safest of abodes.

In Pennsylvania, there were 124 reported incidents in 2011, 27 murder/suicides, and 36 counties with fatalities. June was the highest month for fatalities and Saturday was the most common day.

Philadelphia had the highest victim count at 27; York County had 4.

To learn more or to read the full report, click here