Study Reveals Domestic 'Predictors of Death'

A research of domestic violence-related deaths has revealed that in 83 percent of the cases the victim was either separated or about to terminate the relationship, giving scientific basis for the long-held belief that the most dangerous time for those involved in abusive relationships is when they try to leave.

The University of Cincinnati's School of Social Work examined a seven-year period of 32 domestic violence-related deaths in Hamilton County, Ohio. In 96 percent of the cases, researchers say there were "predictors of death" or deadly warning signs present in the relationships.

Substance abuse was present in 68 percent of the cases involving domestic-violence deaths.

Assistant Professor Gary Dick, in partnership with Ann MacDonald, Executive Director of Rape Crisis & Abuse Center and Chair of the Hamilton County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council's Death Review Panel, analyzed the final reports from the panel that were collected from domestic violence deaths from 1997 to 2003.

The research of those 32 cases found:

• 91 percent who died were female.
  
• 16 percent had a protection order.
  
• 36 had children present.

"Our goal is to share this information with those professionals who work with victims and batterers," Dick says. "In addition, this information will be shared with the public in order protect the health and safety of women."

The major findings of this study identified the following risk factors (predicators of death):

• Separated – 83 percent
  
• Substance abuse – 68 percent
  
• Escalating abuse – 56 percent
  
• Stalking behaviors – 50 percent
  
• Criminal history – 46 percent
  
• Threats to kill – 43 percent
  
• Prior domestic violence-related charge – 36 percent
  
• Child abuse – 33 percent
  
• Threats of suicide – 33 percent
  
• Perpetrator mental illness – 31 percent
  
• Perpetrator brought a weapon – 29 percent
  
• Strangulation – 29 percent
  
• Threats with weapons – 25 percent
  
• Property damage – 23 percent
  
• Violated a protection order – 23 percent
  
• Previous serious injury – 23 percent
  
• Sexual assault – 21 percent
  
• Animal abuse – Eight percent

"This project is designed to help us prevent future deaths because of domestic violence. This is information every woman in the community needs to know," MacDonald said.

Source: University of Cincinnati's School of Social Work Findings from the Cincinnati study were presented at the 10th International Conference on Family Violence in San Diego in September 2005.