Uptick in Ohio domestic violence deaths concerning

A recent Ohio Domestic Violence Network report included some horrifying data that should make every Buckeye State resident want to get to the root of a deadly trend. The network has seen an incredible 37% increase in domestic violence deaths in the state over the past year. According to a report by WSYX, 157 were killed in 108 domestic violence cases in the state between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Lisa DeGeeter, a spokeswoman for ODVN, told the news station the increased number of cases to go through this year was stunning, as was "how much more violent and brutal the cases were." Victims ranged in age from infants to 89 years old. And, in what will come as a surprise to many, the data shifted last year to show more men than women were victims. The horrors continue, as DeGeeter noted there is also an increase in murder-suicides. The Ohio Domestic Violence Network offers a "find help" tab here: https://www.odvn.org/find-help/, complete with a quick "Leave Site Now" button for those who suspect they are about to be in danger if they are caught looking for resources. There is help for those trying to escape a dangerous situation. But why is so much help necessary? "Our member programs have been consistently saying they're seeing increasing severity — and that's been true for a few years," DeGeeter told WSYX. "We don't have a clear explanation for it. But it's what we keep hearing from the people doing this work every day." The organization is partnering with the Ohio Department of Health to try to find those answers, but if they are honest and thorough in their search, it will likely uncover contributing factors that are not so simple to overcome. Even so, as those answers are brought to light, policymakers must not be shy about implementing changes that could reduce the number of domestic violence incidents (and deaths). As the ODVN notes on its website, the necessary change may be economic, social and political, but the bottom line is "all people have the right to an oppression and violence-free life." Ogden Newspapers