March 3rd, 2017 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence released 2015-2016 domestic violence fatality statistics, including victims of intimate partner violence, other individuals who died in domestic violence-related situations, and abusers who committed suicide or were killed. The Cumberland Times News reports fifty-five individuals, including 42 victims, died in Maryland between July 2015 and June 2016 as a result of domestic violence. Fifty-eight percent, or 32, of the domestic violence fatalities, involved the use of a gun. There were at least 47 children left behind.

The 42 victims who died included 34 who were killed by intimate partners: 26 women, one 17-year-old girl and seven men; two of these homicides occurred in a same-sex relationship. Eight other people who died in domestic violence situations included two children, a 2-year-old who was killed by her father and a 14-year-old who was killed by his mom’s boyfriend.

Of the 13 domestic violence abusers who lost their lives, 10 men committed murder-suicide or attempted murder-suicide; two men committed murder-suicide as well as arson; and one man was killed by his victim in self-defense.

MNADV held its 29th Annual Domestic Violence Memorial Service in the Legislative Services Building in Annapolis. The service remembered the 42 women, men and children who died as a result of domestic violence during the past year, celebrated the survivors, and focused attention on changing laws to reduce domestic violence, improve victim safety and provide greater abuser accountability.

State legislators and other public officials, community leaders, advocates and survivors joined to reaffirm the commitment to end violence.