13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Rally calls for end to domestic violence

Rally calls for end to domestic violence

Lynsay Clutter/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - Advocates against domestic abuse say "enough is enough!" after a recent spike in deaths. A rally held Thursday aims to raise awareness and reach out to victims.

"Stop Domestic Abuse!" "Enough is Enough!" Those sentiments were chanted at the rally in Indianapolis at the North United Methodist Church.

Already this year in Marion County, 15 people are dead from domestic abuse. That's compared to 13 in all of 2008. When the economy goes down, attacks often go up.

"There was already abuse in the home, and then we he loses his job, then all of a sudden, the violence just escalates," said Loretta Moore, Prevail. "By independence, and by financial independence, women don't have to go back. So what we've done at Prevail is we now have an employment program."

Resource agencies are trying to get the word out before another person is hurt. In just the last two months alone, three women were killed, allegedly by their husbands or ex-husband.

Amanda Yang, 43, was beaten in her Lawrence home in May. In mid-June, 32-year-old Beth Stayer was beaten outside her condo in Whitestown with a hammer. Almost two weeks ago, 38-year-old Angela Warnock was stabbed to death in her Brownsburg home in front of her children.

All three women had protective orders and were going through divorces. Protective orders are critical for legal recourse, but they are not bullet-proof. Domestic violence advocates say the women did the right thing by trying to get away, but since the separation period is the most dangerous, it's crucial to have a safety plan.

"I would always recommend that when you get a protective order, you also get counseling. It's important to know what kind of safety plan to put into effect because often when people get a protective order, the next thing you can expect is an escalation of violence," said Linda Major, Marion County prosecutor's office.

The safest action is to go to a shelter or place the abuser would never find the victim. Different agencies can help implement various plans, but the message is the same:

"Saving lives, period."

A domestic abuse training event for the public will be held at the Brownsburg Police Department July 13th.

For the seventh year, WTHR has been "Shattering the Silence." For more information on domestic violence , click here.