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Police: One relationship red flag linked to dangers in Charlotte, nation

By Allison Latos, wsoctv.com
By Allison Latos, wsoctv.com

There’s a major push by police in Charlotte to spot a relationship red flag that they said could lead to even more danger -- and possibly death.

Ursula Foxworthy never thought she’d become a victim of domestic violence, but she said when alcohol and arguments mixed, her ex-boyfriend got physical.

[CMPD Domestic Violence Resources]

“He actually broke a window to my home and came in and came from behind and jumped on me and pushed me to the floor,” Foxworthy said. “That’s when he went from my throat.

“Did you fear he would kill you?” anchor Allison Latos asked.

“Absolutely,” Foxworthy said.

“You are 750 times more likely to be killed by your partner if they have strangled you,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Sgt. Craig Varnum, who oversees the department’s domestic violence unit.

Varnum said if an abuser strangles a woman, it’s often a precursor to future, extreme violence.

“Men who strangle women are the ultimate abuse. They are sociopaths. They are predators,” Varnum said.

“This is a red flag for the entire community,” Latos said.

“Absolutely,” Varnum said.

Varnum said nationwide tragedies prove the trend.

In the November massacre at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, the shooter, Devin Kelley, had a history of domestic violence and had strangled his first wife. Police said his in-laws attended the First Baptist Church.

Varnum said the gunman in the Pulse nightclub shooting, Omar Mateen, strangled his first wife.

In January 2017, Esteban Santiago Ruiz allegedly opened fire at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport a year after police said he strangled his girlfriend.

And just last week in Charlotte, Jonathan Bennett killed the mother of his 2-month-old baby, then opened fire on police and shot a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer. When his girlfriend filed a restraining order against Bennett last spring, she said he strangled her.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police charged 250 people with strangulation, but only 11 were convicted, and only half of them served prison time.

Varnum wants the community to take a tougher stance on the crime of strangulation, especially prosecution.

“When we do convict people of the crime, most of them aren’t doing active prison time, and if they are, it’s typically less than three years,” Varnum said.

This summer, officers, prosecutors and local doctors will participate in training to recognize the signs of strangulation.

Channel 9 told viewers in December that CMPD and local agencies are working to put all the resources domestic violence victims need under one roof by creating a family justice center. Officials hope that Charlotte will get a center in three years or less.

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