Charlotte, Lee counties report alarming domestic violence increase

Domestic violence incidents are on the rise in Charlotte and Lee counties, with new figures showing the frequency of calls to deputies. The holidays can escalate these dangerous situations further, according to professionals in the area.

Linda Oberhaus from the Shelter for Abused Women and Children explained the dangers of domestic violence situations, emphasizing the risk posed by certain areas of the home.

"It was pretty scary. They always say the kitchen is the most dangerous place for a victim to be when you're in a home when there's domestic violence," said Oberhaus.

Oberhaus sees these cases frequently and underscores the importance of safety planning for victims.

"In safety planning with victims of domestic violence, as part of the safety plan, we encourage them to stay away from the kitchen because that's where knives happen to be," said Oberhaus.

Domestic violence is not limited to intimate partners, Oberhaus added.

"Domestic violence typically happens behind closed doors," said Oberhaus. "Domestic violence can happen between parents and children, especially between adult children and their elderly parents."

Chad Pardue, a domestic violence victim advocate with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, noted the various forms physical abuse can take.

"You can have physical abuse with intimate boyfriend, girlfriend, husband and wife, or a son and a mother, or a son and a father," said Pardue.

Pardue highlighted the increased challenges during the holiday season.

"We'll get maybe a spike in calls for service, because, you know, the family's all together. Everybody's a little bit stressed about the holiday season," said Pardue.

Both Pardue and Oberhaus stressed the importance of recognizing early signs of domestic violence.

"If you are destroying things, if you're having issues with communicating without lashing out and being physically angry. Then, of course, right there's something that can be boiling there that's maybe come to a head," said Pardue.

Oberhaus pointed out the severe risks associated with certain threats.

"Well, in some of the highest risk cases that we see here at the shelter, if someone threatens violence, if they say out loud that they are going to kill their partner or a family member, that's one of the precursors to domestic violence homicide," said Oberhaus.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office reported handling about 2,900 reports and 670 domestic violence arrests annually. In Lee County, there have been 113 domestic violence arrests since January 1, excluding cases classified as murder or aggravated assault.