Silent Witness Ceremony Honors 2023 Victims of Fatal Domestic Violence
- Staff Writer
- Oct 4, 2023
- 2 min read
Ceremony Held During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
West Columbia, SC 10/04/2023 – Attorney General Alan Wilson led participants through the 26th annual Silent Witness Domestic Violence ceremony that was held today at the South Carolina State Capitol Complex in Columbia. During the solemn ceremony, Attorney General Wilson called the names of twenty-nine (29) women and seven (7) men from across the state who lost their lives in the previous year as the result of domestic violence.
Family members carried life-sized silhouettes representing victims to the State House steps as a bell was rung for each victim. An additional thirty-seventh (37) silhouette was carried to represent potential unknown victims.
“In silence, we bear witness to the pain and loss caused by domestic violence. It is a somber commitment to remember, to honor, and to break the cycle of abuse,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Domestic violence leaves scars often unseen. By raising awareness and supporting survivors, we can help end the abuse, one act of courage and compassion at a time."
The Violence Policy Center will release a 25-year special report on October 4th that details data and trends across the nation related to men killing women. The report details state rankings from 1996 through 2020. It lists South Carolina in the top five for 11 years, the top 10 for 12 years, 11th in 2018, and a final ranking in 2020 of 23rd in the nation.
The Honorable Alan Wilson, religious leaders and other community members made special remarks to highlight the problem of domestic violence in our state.
A statistical breakdown for each county is available at http://www.scag.gov/criminal-domestic-violence-in-south-carolina.
2023 SILENT WITNESS VICTIMS
Rosa Salguero-Landaverde
33 years old
Aiken County
Lacey Toole
34 years old
Aiken County
Mary Jo McIntyre
24 years old
Anderson County
Rebecca Sorrow
71 years old
Anderson County
Kalila Heyward-Saunders
22 years old
Beaufort County
Tamara Glover
21 years old
Berkeley County
Teresa Jenkins
29 years old
Charleston County
Megan Rich
41 years old
Charleston County
Sandra Stenersen
41 years old
Charleston County
Deirdre Holmes
52 years old
Colleton County
Ozell McClain
69 years old
Darlington County
Linda Peets
75 years old
Dorchester County
Tamika Monique McGray
47 years old
Florence County
Taylor McFadden Robinson
29 years old
Florence County
Natasha Middleton
44 years old
Georgetown County
Emily Richitelli
30 years old
Georgetown County
Doris Howell
79 years old
Greenville County
Curtavious Smith
24 years old
Greenville County
Clarrissa Winchester
22 years old
Greenville County
Teresa Ellis
60 years old
Greenwood County
Deerica Fisher
21 years old
Horry County
Betzabeth Xolta Meza
26 years old
Horry County
Christy Rozier
34 years old
Lancaster County
Terry Chermak
49 years old
Laurens County
Sabrina Jackson
34 years old
Lexington County
Reggie Ford
43 years old
Marion County
Janice Pryer
54 years old
Marlboro County
Terrance Boyd
43 years old
Oconee County
Kennedy Drayton
31 years old
Pickens County
Brenda Coker
72 years old
Richland County
Michelle Hayes
51 years old
Richland County
Patricia Perry
49 years old
Saluda County
Narada Davis
42 years old
Spartanburg County
Donna Long
21 years old
Spartanburg County
Shantell Reynolds
47 years old
Sumter County
Stanley Jones
33 years old
Union County
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