Statement from Shannon Heady, Executive Director, Safe Harbor, on Recent Deaths in Central Virginia Resulting from Domestic Violence

May 5, 2010 (Richmond, Virginia) – In recent days, two high profile murders occurred in central Virginia, allegedly resulting from domestic violence.  Yeardley Love, a fourth year student at the University of Virginia, was found dead Monday in Charlottesville.  Joyce L. Mann, a Chesterfield resident, was found dead Friday.  It is suspected that both women incurred fatal injuries at the hands of former intimate partners. Following is a statement regarding these acts issued by Shannon Heady, executive director, Safe Harbor [www.safeharborshelter.com], a Henrico-based non-profit agency that provides counseling, advocacy, education and shelter to survivors of domestic violence.

“Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of Yeardley Love and Joyce L. Mann as they mourn the loss of these women.  While Safe Harbor is available for support 365 days a year, it is times like these when our staff and volunteers mobilize to provide critical emergency assistance where needed.

Domestic violence is always present in our community.  One in four women and one in eight men in Virginia will report experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetime.  In Henrico County alone, nearly 6,000 domestic violence calls were received resulting in approximately 1150 arrests.  We want every person who may be involved in a violent situation to know that help is here for you.

Our services are available to anyone who has been a victim of domestic violence, and all services are free of charge.”

About Safe Harbor

Safe Harbor staff can always be reached by calling the 24-hour crisis hotline at (804) 287-7877.

In 2009, Safe Harbor:

• answered nearly 1,000 hotline calls,

• provided over 3,200 nights of safe shelter to survivors of intimate partner violence, and

• provided over 2,400 hours of counseling and advocacy to survivors of intimate partner violence.

Safe Harbor’s mission is to save lives by providing education, advocacy, counseling and shelter to break the cycle of domestic violence.  The agency was born through the efforts of a St. Mary’s Hospital emergency room nurse who was concerned by the number of domestic abuse victims she treated.  As a result, Safe Harbor opened in April 2000 and has grown from an emergency shelter to offering critical services such as community counseling programs for adults and children, community support groups in English and Spanish, court advocacy, and community education and outreach services.  For more information, log on to www.safeharborshelter.com or call (804) 249-9470.

More Resources on Domestic Violence

For resources throughout Virginia, including a 24-hour hotline and ways you can help, visit the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance web site or call their hotline at 800-838-8238.