the victim told the rabbi that her husband had been abusing her for years, that she had left him twice before, and that she could no longer live with him. She admitted being afraid of her husband, and the rabbi encouraged her to leave him,

After the separation the rabbi spent significant time with the perpetrator observing several factors that caused him concern, including the perpetrator's depression and suicidal ideation, but did not seek outside assistance in addressing those factors. On the day of the murder, the couple and children went to worship services together. In the car afterwards, the perpetrator fatally stabbed the victim then himself.

A significant finding in Georgia's domestic violence fatality cases is the presence of faith communities in the lives of victims, abusers, and their families. Clergy members provide spiritual guidance and support to their congregations. They also counsel and directly assist persons in need. Unfortunately, too few clergy members are trained about the dynamics of domestic violence - often the results are tragic.


The Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project is a collaboration between the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. The Project has published 4 annual reports each building on the last and containing data and analysis related to the prior year. A goal of this project is to reduce the domestic violence-related fatalities using information learned about past fatalities. Whether front line responders, justice system personnel, advocates or family and friends of those affected by domestic violence, the reports seek to provide information that might be used to prevent a domestic violence homicide. Read More Here
The 2009 Annual Report of the Fatality Review Project is available at FatalityReview.com