Seventeen domestic violence deaths occurred within the first nine months of 2021, the same number of deaths reported in all of 2020, according to recent report by the Iowa Attorney General’s Crime Victim Assistance Division.
“Seventeen people lost their lives as a result of domestic violence in the first nine months of 2021. Eleven women, four men and two bystanders were killed as a result of these domestic violence cases,” the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa posted to Facebook on Oct. 25, sharing a link to a release outlining the state's domestic violence fatality report.
The Crime Victim Assistance Division cannot say there is a direct link between the increase in domestic violence deaths and the pandemic, they do believe it is an aggravating factor, Radio Times reported. Division Director Sandi Tibbetts Murphy said the pandemic increased the difficulty for those in need to find help, effectively curtailing all of their support.
The 17 deaths last year were the most reported since 2010, according to the release. With three more months to go, "this is a sign of a tragic trajectory," Tibbetts Murphy said.
Some 358 people, including minors, have been killed due to domestic violence in the state since 1995, according to the release. Those in need of support are encouraged to reach out to the Iowa Domestic Violence Helpline at 800-770-1650 or the National Domestic Violence Helpline at 800-799-SAFE.
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