Report of Bucks County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission
An article in March 7, 2008 The Morning Call covers the release of the Bucks County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission findings. LASP's Elizabeth Fritsch, a commission member, was quoted in the article
Study: Slain wives weren't battered
Review of Bucks domestic violence cases shows typical warning sign not there.
By Scott Kraus The Morning Call March 7, 2008
Following the deaths of 12 people as a result of domestic violence within a six-month period in 2005, the Bucks County district attorney's office convened a special committee to look for answers.
After reviewing four of the 12 cases in depth, including interviews with family and friends of the victims, the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission released its findings Thursday.
Some of them defied conventional wisdom.
For one thing, said First Assistant District Attorney David Zellis, none of the four victims had previously been physically abused -- often thought to be a warning sign.
"All four cases lacked physical violence in the relationship," Zellis said. "There were, however, other forms of abuse."
Victims had been subjected to mental and emotional abuse, controlling behavior, stalking and had been isolated from family and friends by their abuser, he said.
The commission also determined tha common factors often present in domestic violence, such as conflicts over child custody, a victim economically dependent on the perpetrator and lengthy contact with domestic abuse agencies, were missing.
The study found three of four of the perpetrators were unemployed, two out of four were using drugs or alcohol at the time of the killings and all four had histories of substance abuse and criminal records.
Two of the cases were from Upper Bucks County.
The study examined the June 15 killing of Robin Shaffer by her estranged husband, Jeffrey Ogle, who later killed himself with a gunshot wound to the head in Quakertown Memorial Park.
And it also looked at the June 18 killing of Suzanne Detwiler of East Rockhill Township by her husband, Andrew, who was subsequently shot dead by their son.
The other two cases reviewed were in Lower Bucks County.
Elizabeth Fritsch, co-executive director of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, cautioned that it is hard to make generalizations from a review of just four cases, but that the examination did reveal important insights.
"It is just four cases, but it is amazing how much they were alike," said Fritsch, a commission member.
The commission listed the following risk factors common to each case:
Stalking, manipulation and controlling behaviors on the part of the perpetrator.
Presence of depression or suicidal thoughts in the mind of the perpetrator.
Imminent or recent separation for the victim.
Easy access to guns.
Lack of victim recognition that they are in real danger. Family and friends reported in each case that the victim thought they had their situation under control.
The commission also made the following recommendations:
Launch a public awareness campaign in schools and workplaces to increase knowledge about domestic abuse and its dangers, including risks caused by stalking and recently terminated relationships.
Improve domestic abuse victims' ability to identify and access support services.
Prohibit individuals who have been voluntarily committed because of mental illness or have a history of protection from abuse orders, from owning guns.
Train mental health and substance abuse professionals to recognize domestic abuse warning signs.
Create a cross-agency team in Bucks County to reduce domestic abuse and resulting fatalities.
District Attorney Michelle Henry said she is committed to helping the commission put its recommendations into effect.
"This commission stemmed from four very tragic cases," Henry said. "I do feel some good can come out of this."
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Published by themorningcall.com by Scott Kraus March 7, 2008