Jessica Nicole Wolfe: Lifting the Veil of Silence on Intimate Partner Homicide

Jessica Nicole Wolfe

It's not suppose to happen to someone that you know.  But it does.  Intimate partner violence that leads to homicide takes the lives of approximately eight to ten women each and everyday.  Families affected find their lives suddenly come to an abrupt halt.  Often blaming themselves as to what could have been done differently to prevent such a horror.

Right now as I write this, the family, friends and co-workers of Jessica Nicole Wolfe are experiencing a flood of thoughts feelings and trauma, shaken at their very core over her senseless murder.  One-by one each kicking themselves because they were unable to prevent Jessica's murder from a man with whom she dated, Russell Holt, violent, controlling and abusive.  It should be noted Holt was a probation officer.  Jessica was found murdered in his home around 2:30 am Sunday with a single gunshot to the torso.

For the past six years Jessica was employed as a legal secretary with the Houston County District Attorney's office in Georgia.

Russell Holt has been arrested and charged with her murder.

If you want to see changes.  If you are interested in stopping the bloodshed of intimate partner violence resulting in homicide, than you who are reading about this must do more than gloss over this story with your morning coffee. Sadly, that is exactly what communities across the country  are doing. Nothing!  Yes it's nice to say prayers and words of comfort to surviving family and friends, but without action in the aftermath on our part, it amounts to little more than lip service. What are we doing to prevent the next Jessica from being murdered in silence?

If we don't embrace the victim while still alive and provide real solutions all we do is enable those who kill, simply because we do not consider domestic violence and stalking as a serious crime.

I've been working for over twenty years at successfully keeping victims alive, likely fueled by the  fact that I always felt as if I failed my mother when she was murdered by own father in 1989.  Till my last breath I will continue to fight but, I can't do it alone.  I need the support and help of communities across the country. I need for you to go to the Document The Abuse site and get the information out there into the communities.
I need assistance in spreading the information on April 15, 2012, when the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit debuts for victims of intimate partner violence as an app in Apple stores across the country.

If we can go viral using the information highway reaching billions, with effective solutions for victims and hold offenders accountable no differently than a drunk driver because it's against the law, we will have successfully lifted the veil of silence.  


Document The Abuse for anyone involved in an abusive relationship, it contains vital information on how the "EAA"can support each case of abuse from the perspective of the first responder's and advocates, to an appearance in court. It explains the legal benefits to the abuse victim, whether they are able to testify or not, how their words are forever documented and hold up in court, much like a Living Will. It is a voice that would have brought justice for Sheila Deviney and other silenced by those who once professed to love them.

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 on Crime 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.