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Optional Reading about DV and the Holidays:
Over the years, there have been warnings that the Holidays can be a fertile time for Domestic Violence.
St. Lucie sheriff: Mark Holland dies after killing his wife, father-in-law 2 days before Christmas
Sara Marino, Treasure Coast Newspapers Published 12:50 p.m. ET Dec. 26, 2018 | Updated 4:35 p.m. ET Dec. 26, 2018
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A St. Lucie County man who was accused of killing his wife and father-in-law Sunday died on Christmas. Sheriff Ken Mascara said this is the seventh incident in 2018 where a murder resulted from a domestic violence incident.
At a Wednesday morning news conference, Sheriff Ken Mascara identified the accused shooter as Mark Holland, 53. Mascara also identified the victims: 84-year-old Rudolph Rehm and his daughter, 58-year-old Renee Holland.
Mascara said deputies received calls about screaming and gunshots coming from a home, located at 3 Grande Camino Court in Fort Pierce, at 6:39 p.m. Sunday. When deputies arrived, they found Rehm and Renee Holland dead with gunshot wounds inside the home.
Mark Holland was accused of shooting and killing his wife and father-in-law in St. Lucie County two days before Christmas. Mascara said Mark Holland was taken to a local hospital in serious condition Sunday, with charges pending. On Christmas night, Mark Holland died as a result of self-inflicted injuries, Mascara said.
"Through our investigation, we learned that Mark Holland was arrested in Indian River County for domestic violence toward Renee on Aug. 29 of this year," Mascara said. "Tragically, here in St. Lucie County, this is the seventh death this year in our community that has a nexus to domestic violence." The Aug. 29 case was later dropped because of lack of cooperation by Renee Holland, a sheriff's spokesperson said.
Deputies said Rehm was shot in his bed first, and Renee Holland was running out of the home but was killed before she made it outside.
Mascara said 72 percent of all murder-suicides involve a loved one. "Sadly, the ones who profess our love the most, might kill you," Mascara said.
In 2018 so far, the Sheriff's Office has responded to 648 calls regarding domestic violence, which is an increase of 43 calls from the previous year. Mascara urged people who are victims of domestic violence to reach out to Safe Space, a local shelter and service provider, at 800-500-1119. “If you know someone who is going through a difficult time, be it domestic violence, depression, or something else, be an advocate for them and get them help,” Mascara said.
Michelle Akins, the director of Safe Space, said the agency had about 2,000 calls in 2018 to their 24/7 hotline. "Please, if you are a victim and you do need us, we are there for you 24-7," Akins said.
(Source, Retrieved 12/16/2019 from: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/crime/st-lucie-county/2018/12/26/domestic-violence-mark-holland-suicide-murders-wife-father-law/2414021002/)
From Violence-Free Colorado:
As we find ourselves in the midst of the holiday season, we are often asked the question, ‘Does domestic violence increase during the holidays (the time period beginning the week of Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day)?’
Although there continues to be a common perception that domestic violence increases during the holidays, available research on such a link is still limited and inconclusive. Information on the number of calls received by the National Domestic Violence hotline, which fields thousands of calls from victims in Colorado in lieu of a statewide hotline based in Colorado, for the past ten years indicates that the number of calls drops dramatically during the holidays, including on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.* Most of the rest of the available information continues to be anecdotal or opinion pieces reflecting the experiences of advocates at a particular shelter or law enforcement agencies in a given community.
Additionally, many communities experience increased media and public attention to domestic violence during the holidays. The holidays are certainly an opportunity to increase public awareness that domestic violence does not stop during the holidays and that the abuse and violence experienced by victims may be exacerbated (although not
caused) by the financial stress and alcohol consumption that often accompany the holidays. Victims and survivors of domestic violence may experience additional stress and unique challenges over the holiday season and may turn to advocates at domestic violence organizations or to other resources in the community for needed support, such
as with safety planning specific to the holidays, food, gifts for their children, etc.
Members of the community who want to help victims of domestic violence and their children, who are not fortunate enough to experience the joy of the holidays within safe, loving families, should contact the local domestic violence non-profit organization serving their community to find out ways they can offer their support. A listing of all such organizations in the state is available here on Violence Free Colorado’s website.
*An analysis of statistics from small studies and available data on calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline indicates some contradictory patterns.
Summary of Available Data:
• A 2005 study examining police incident reports of domestic violence in Idaho suggests that there is a strong relationship between particular holidays and incidence reports of Intimate Partner Violence. This study found that domestic violence reports are higher than the normal daily average on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day averaging 2.7 times more incidents of domestic violence than the normal daily average.1
• A 2010 study examining calls for law enforcement assistance in a large U.S. city also found that the number of
incidents reported was higher on New Year’s Day compared to the daily average.2
• On the other hand, data from the National Domestic Violence hotline for the years 2004 through 2010, indicates that the number of hotline calls drops dramatically during the holidays. For instance, call volume drops by approximately half on Thanksgiving Day. Call volume decreases by an average of 53% on Christmas Day and 30% on
New Year’s Day.3
1 Vasquez, S. P., Stohr, M. K., Purkiss, M. (2005). Intimate partner violence incidence and characteristics: Idaho NIBRS 1995
to 2001 data. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 16(1), 99–‐114.
2 Joshi, M., & Sorenson, S. B. (2010). Intimate partner violence at the scene: Incident characteristics and implications for
public health surveillance. Evaluation Review, 34(2), 116–‐136.
3 NDVH provides a very different data source than is used in the other two studies. While the two studies examine law
enforcement statistics, NDVH call data reflect individuals reaching out on a toll–‐free helpline for assistance, including
victims, friends and family, and less frequently, offenders. Also, data analyzed by the three sources referenced here are
from different time periods.
(Source: Violence-Free Colorado, 2018: https://www.violencefreecolorado.org/2014/12/faq-dv-during-the-holidays/)
By Taylor Frost | Posted: Fri 10:09 PM, Nov 23, 2018 | Updated: Fri 10:13 PM, Nov 23, 2018
SPRINGFIELD, Mo - The Victim Center in Spring_eld helps many clients each year. Executive Director, Brandi Bartel, says Greene County ranks among the top in the state for the highest rates of domestic violence.
"There isn't a particular season for violence," Bartel said. "Violence happens year round."
During the holiday season, Bartel says there tend to be more opportunities for abuse to take place since many families gather together.
"Often times that can lead to crisis situations where victims don't feel safe," Bartel said.
Statistics from the Victim Center over the past three years show an increase in reports in January. Bartel says they do not know exactly why but believe once victims return to a sense of normalcy, after the holidays, they feel more comfortable asking for help.
"We are always here and willing to help victims think of things they would want to include in their own safety plan," Bartel said.
"Every individual circumstance is different."
If you know someone in a potentially dangerous or abusive situation, Bartel says your response is important.
"It is very painful to watch our loved ones go through these very violent types of situations," Bartel said.
She suggests being patient, friendly and taking time to listen.
"Just share that love you have for that person in a very non-judgemental way," Bartel said.
For more information about the center visit: www.thevictimcenter.org
The contact their 24-7 hotline for help, call: 417-864-7233 (SAFE)
(Source: https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Understanding-domestic-violence-during-the-holiday-season-501161472.html)
By Melissa Kakareka | November 28, 2018 at 10:10 AM CST - Updated November 28 at 10:10 AM
SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - For those experiencing or escaping domestic violence — this time of year isn’t full of Christmas cheer.
“Unfortunately, domestic violence doesn’t take a holiday. Domestic violence is continuous throughout the holidays,” says Petrina Jenkins of Project Celebration Inc.
Many survivors are tempted to stay with or go back to abusers during the holiday season. At Project Celebration Inc, the staff works to prevent that from happening. They’re are working to keep the women and children in shelters safe and comfortable this holiday season.
“We have conversations in our group sessions with survivors that things don’t change just because of a holiday.
Reminding that individual of why they left," she continues.
As far the perception that domestic violence spikes during the holiday season, Jenkins says that’s a myth.
Domestic violence is continuous and happens year round. P.C.I. shelters remain close to full right now and all year.
However, they do tend to see a spike in calls in the beginning of January when people are making New Year’s Resolutions.
"If you are in a violent situation or you know someone in a violent situation at the holidays or otherwise, safety planning is always important. It’s always important to have a plan that’s well thought out, speci_c to your needs, and have an ally. "
No matter what time of year, Jenkins says its important to be supportive of victims.
Project Celebration Inc. is accepting gifts and basic needs for the women and kids at the shelter so they have a good Christmas. The organization works hard to help the kids have some holiday cheer.
(Source: https://www.ksla.com/2018/11/28/holidays-can-be-challenging-time-domestic-violence-survivors/)
DV on the Holidays is not a new phenomenon; For Example, Headline Reads:
“North Carolina tobacco farmer murdered his wife and six children — including infant daughter — in 1929 Christmas Day massacre”
On Christmas Day, 1929, Marie Lawson, 17, rose early to blend butter, sugar, and three egg whites, roll a cup of raisins in flour, and pour the mixture into two circular pans. In about an hour, her signature dessert would be iced and ready for the holiday. Five years later, it was still untouched, except for a few raisins stolen by sightseers. It remained on display, under glass, a souvenir of a massacre.
There was no way Marie could have known that, while the cake was cooling, her dad was out behind the tobacco barn, killing two of her sisters.
And there was certainly no way she could have predicted that she'd soon be among her father's victims.
On that Christmas day, Charles Davis Lawson, 43, a North Carolina tobacco farmer, murdered his wife and six of his seven children before taking his own life.
People still wonder why.
Lawson was born in 1886 in the town of Lawsonville. He grew up, started sharecropping, married Fannie Manring in 1911, and had eight children. One boy died at age 6 of pneumonia.
By 1927, Lawson had saved money enough to buy land near Germanton, close to his brothers' farms. The property had a ramshackle 200-year-old farmhouse and barns perfect for storing tobacco.”
“Lawson family grave. The killing attracted so much attention that an estimated 5,000 curiosity-seekers attended the Lawson family funeral. They were all buried in a single large plot in the private Browder Family Cemetery just outside of Germanton.”
Some people believe that his troubles could be traced to an accident during the renovations when Lawson hit himself in the forehead with his ax, wrote M. Bruce Jones and Trudy J. Smith in "White Christmas, Bloody Christmas." His wounds healed, but many people said that Lawson changed after the accident, his usual quick temper flaring more often and with greater intensity.
A couple of weeks before Christmas, Lawson bundled his family into his truck for a drive to Winston-Salem, about 13 miles away. There, he bought them fancy new clothes, whatever they wanted, no matter what the cost. Then he had them sit for a family portrait. It was, he said, part of a "Christmas surprise."
On Christmas morning, around the time Marie was preparing the ingredients for her cake, Charles and his eldest son Arthur, 16, went out hunting.
The men ran out of ammunition, so Charlie sent his son into Germanton, about 15 minutes away, to buy some more. Arthur was still in the store when word reached him that something horrible had happened at home.
His mother and six brothers and sisters were dead. The middle girls, Carrie, 12, and Maybell, 7, had been found in the tobacco barn, shot and bludgeoned.
There was more horror at the house. Fannie had been on the porch when a shotgun blast to her chest killed her. Inside, Marie's corpse was sprawled near the fireplace. James, 4, and Raymond, 2, had been beaten to death. Even the youngest member of the family, 4-month-old Mary Lou, had not been spared.
First to discover the bodies were Charlie's brother, Elijah, and his sons. They had stopped by on their way home from a morning hunt, planning to wish the family a Merry Christmas.
Word of the horror spread quickly, and soon police and neighbors filled the house. Someone got a car and whisked Arthur home. But Charlie was nowhere to be found.
More than four hours passed before Charlie announced his whereabouts with a single shot. He had run into the woods, down toward a thicket where he walked in a circle around a pine tree so many times that he wore a path in the snow. Then he turned the gun on himself.
The mournful howls of Lawson's two beagles led searchers to his body.
"Crazy Farmer Kills Wife, 6 Children," was the headline of a small item in the New York Times.
The entire family was buried in a single plot — the victims next to their murderer — but that was not the end of the story.
So many people kept crawling around the crime scene that one of Lawson's brothers decided to charge a 25-cent admission to tour the house.
During the five years the house was open, it drew sightseers by the thousands, including, the story goes, Public Enemy Number One — John Dillinger.
Booklets, poems and photographs of the house and the grave raised more money. A bluegrass musician penned a ballad and sold it to Columbia Records, and it became a hit. Mothers in the area would sing it to their children instead of lullabies.
Strange stories of premonitions, curses and ghosts went wild, especially after the family's sole survivor, Arthur, died in his early 30s in a freak truck accident.
Over time, the house was torn down, and interest in the tragedy waned. Then in the late 1980s, Jones, who grew up in the area and was 8 at the time of the murders, decided to find an answer to the long-pondered question of "why."
One new theory was that Charlie was trying to cover up a case of incest and that Marie was carrying her father's child. A documentary filmed in 2006 — "A Christmas Family Tragedy" — suggested it was the devastating end to a long-term history of domestic abuse. But no one can say for sure.
As for Marie's Christmas cake, it spent years as the star attraction at the murder site and in carnival sideshows. It had to be protected by a glass cover because people were picking off the raisins as keepsakes.
When the tours ended, one of Lawson's relatives took the cake home and eventually buried it.
(Source: Retrieved 12/16/2019 from: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/crazed-farmer-kills-wife-6-kids-christmas-day-massacre-article-1.2477445)
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