Alexis Jackson, 13, a 7th grade student at Glascow Middle school in Alexandria, Virginia was murdered by her father, John Jackson, a former police sergeant with the Fairfax County Police Department who then committed suicide. He resigned in 2010, around the same time he and his then estranged wife, Cindy, had filed for divorce, citing physical abuse during the marriage. Court Records show the divorce action was dropped in January.
In a story reporting on the murder-suicide in the Washington Post, one comment in particular caught my attention.
As a former co-worker of the wife (Cindy) I am appalled how she was victimized again through this article with such personal specific details about the brutality she endured. I understand court reports are public knowledge but seriously? What is wrong with journalists these days? Those details provided about her past were so inappropriate just to make a an article more 'dramatic'. Shame you Post Reporter.....you are part of the problem for protecting victims privacy!
The former co-worker calls out the fact that Cindy Jackson's abuse should be private, angry that the information was released. What we need to be angry about is the fact that intimate partner homicide is an epidemic and it hijacks the lives of eight to ten victims 365 days year. John Jackson murdered his own child. His actions during the marriage are very much a part of the ultimate act of power and control. In this case he planned out the murder of his daughter to get back at his wife. John Jackson wanted to teach Cindy a lesson; punish his wife by taking away her entire world, her child whom she loved more than life itself.
When we silence the crime, abusers gain more power and control over their victims. John Jackson, while on the police force, got away with his dangerous and criminal behavior against his wife. He had no choice but to be given the opportunity to resign, save face, or face criminal charges, a special consideration often given to those in the "blue brotherhood."
There is nothing dramatic about violence in the home; it's a crime and against the law. It's not a private matter, especially when a person sworn to serve and protect terrorizes their own family during their job as a sworn law enforcement officer.
Cindy Jackson went out to the driveway up to the parked SUV, screamed out to God as she smashed the glass on the passenger side window and discovered her daughter's lifeless body in the car.
Comments by former colleagues of the Sargeant and others on the Fairfax police department were words of "shock" and "disbelief" about the death of his daughter. But their non-responsive actions to Cindy Jackson's pleas for help while her husband was on the job only fueled the violence in the couple's relationship. There were no consequences to the violent offender. He showed his victim just how untouchable he was. And then, he showed the world who was in control by taking the life of Alexis Jackson, 13 years old!
Before you decide to personally express your opinions, note that I am the daughter of a Chicago Violent Crimes detective who murdered my mother in 1989, before committing suicide. I know firsthand how these crimes go down.
Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education as a educator and specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.
A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals, victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. Host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show,"Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes : Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up! a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime
A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals, victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. Host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show,"Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes : Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up! a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime
