The Susan Murphy Milano Show- "Time's Up" Live Thursday 2-4 PM Eastern Time

Thursdays from 2pm to 4pm Eastern

The Susan Murphy Milano Show

"Time's Up!"


Thursday, March 10

2pm-3pm:

Lynn Tolson


Author of "Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story", a memoir about overcoming abuse and adversity. About mind, body, spirit transformation and a message of hope.


Joe Turner, father of murdered Chanda Turner, and spearheading the reform of the Oklahoma medical examiners office Senate Bill SB250 (www.justiceforthedead.com) will be calling in from the steps of the Oklahoma capital for a report on the progress of the bill.

3pm-4pm:


"Police Officer Involved Family Violence"

Guests:

Wives of police officeers, Bernadette Avila, Clara Colon and the family of Nancy Rojo, who as a witnesses watched, Sheriff Alexander Rojo pulled out a handgun and, without saying a word, shot his wife three times, stood over her and fired five more bullets, according to police. He then sat down on the street curb and shot himself.

Known as the “Jane Wayne of Justice,” Susan Murphy Milano always stands up as a voice for those who are silenced in a world of intimidation and violence within their homes and in courtrooms across the country.

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Clara Colon:"On October 29, 2010 I wrote a post titled"Murder in Progress: Elizabeth New Jersey." About a police officer's wife who found the courage, after 13 years of abuse and threats on her life and that of her children's lives, to press criminal charges against him. He is acommissioned police officer."

Bernadette Avila and Nancy Rojo story: http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/search?q=bernadette

Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visithttp://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/ She is also in partnership with Pamela Chapman and iAscend Programs.http://pamelachapmanl.biz

Susan is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and SurviveAbusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talk http://www.herewomentalk.com/and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth. Susan is a survivor- the daughter of a police officer family intimate partner homicide by her Chicago detective father who murdered her mother before committing suicide.

Bernadette Avila Wife of a Chicago Police Officer is in Danger!

Bernadette Avila [pictured above] is the wife of a veteran Chicago Police Officer. Currently he is a patrol officer assigned to the 8th district.

On February 17, 2011, according to the police report: INCIDENT:Aggravated Assault Handgun.

The officer is charged, finger printed and is given an eye bond.

On February 18, 2011, at 555 W. Harrison, Bernadette Avila spends most of the day at the courthouse and is finally granted by a judge an "EMERGENCY" order of protection. The judge asks about weapons and where they are kept in the residence so that all weapons are removed when the officer is served with the court order of protection. Afterwards the information that the officer was properly served is entered in the L.E.A.D.S computer system. And if there are further problems of stalking, harassment, abuse etc Bernadette could then file police reports for violating the order of protection.

On February 19, 2011, Bernadette Avila completes the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit and video further describing other weapons, abuse and fear for her safety. In addition, she follows the other procedures that will continue to keep her safe. She mails me an original set notarized and signed of the "EAA" and video with a copy of the protection order, police report, and a photo of her officer husband.

On Saturday, February 26, 2011, she receives six text messages from her estranged officer husband cell phone. Per the order, it states:

1. With respect to all protected persons, Respondent (that means the officer) is prohibited from committing the following: Physical Abuse; Harassment; Interference with personal liberty; Stalking;

The texts are a clear violation of the order of protection. She returns Monday morning 2/28/2011, to 555 W. Harrison and waits to meet with the Assistant State's Attorney for violation of the order of protection. I inform Bernadette to call me from court if she has any problem. Although I am not a lawyer, I did work extensively on the stalking and domestic violence laws in Illinois and was responsible for the implementation and passage. I believed that after the murder of my own mother, the wife of a Chicago Police detective, gunned down because she ended the relationship with my father, there was hope for others. I wanted to believe the law would change the landscape of how these cases were handled. I have been wrong since 1989.

At 2:30 PM , a distraught, barely audible Bernadette calls me. "The State's Attorney laughed at me, the protection had never been entered in the L.E.A.D.S computer system. And he wasn't going to help me no way, no how anyway, he didn't have time for this nonsense because you can't prove he, himself, sent the text messages." Bernadette wanted to know why she even bothered and "no one cares, I'm gonna die, I'm not protected. My husband told me this would happen, he can get away with it and he is, what am I suppose to do?" I called Sheriff Tom Dart's office to see if the court order had been served and in the system. Within a few minutes a Cook County Lieutenant informed me that he was served but, it was not entered into the system. It was being entered as we spoke on the phone.

Bernadette Avila has been beaten, threatened, stalked and controlled by her abusive, controlling and dangerous officer husband, in my opinion. If her estranged husband loses his job after over 20 plus years on the force, he may feel as though he has nothing to lose. In my opinion, she will be killed. She knows it. Wives of officer related violence know firsthand their life hangs by a thread when they do anything to cause embarrassment to their husband or boyfriend.

Bernadette's close friend Nancy Rojo, the wife of Cook County Sheriff, also attempted to get help from a system that turned a deaf ear. On September 15, 2010, court records show that Nancy Rojo filed for an order of protection against her husband. She accused Alexander of attacking her, holding a gun to her head, and threatening to kill her. Six days later, she filed for divorce; after the filing, the two agreed not to see each other, and had their orders of protection dismissed. The only reason Nancy dropped the order was because she was threatened by him. She believed if she complied that her estranged husband would finally leave her alone and be able to keep his job as a Sheriff.

Nancy Rojo filed for divorce on Sept. 21 and six days later they had their protection orders dismissed and agreed to no contact. But according to sources co-workers knew Sheriff Rojo was obsessed with her. He placed tracking devices on her vehicle with the knowledge of 1 or 2 fellow co-workers, stalked and continued to threaten her life. Although dangerous, he was too well liked by those he worked with on a daily basis. Their marriage according to family members was violent. On Oct. 12, 2010, a witnesses watched as Sheriff Alexander Rojo pulled out a handgun and, without saying a word, shot his wife three times, stood over her and fired five more bullets, according to police. He then sat down on the street curb and shot himself.

Those married to law enforcement have no place to turn for help. When they do seek assistance they are ridiculed for claiming their church attending saint of a husband with a badge and a gun has threatened to kill them. Wives and girlfriends of police officers are not believed by the very system sworn to serve and protect our streets and community.

On March 11, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. Bernadette Avila has to return to the very courtroom where she was laughed at several hours ago by a Cook State's Attorney who is suppose to be representing her in this criminal and very serious matter.

Now, a plan of action must include various steps to keep Bernadette Avila, safe, no different than I have had to do for nearly 20 years.

One day the legal system will embrace the messenger utilizing proven strategies and implement the prescription for change that will enforce the laws while at the same reducing the number of murders without anyone's ego getting bruised. As always, and in confidence, I can be contacted via email at murphymilano@gmail.com

Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit by Susan Murphy Milano from the Book "Time's Up" from Courage Network on Vimeo.

Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visithttp://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/ She is also in partnership with Pamela Chapman and iAscend Programs. http://pamelachapmanl.biz Susan is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and SurviveAbusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth

Lacey Gaines Case Deserves an Investigation in Cook County Illinois

Lacey Gaines was barely 20 years of age when her body was discovered on the kitchen floor of her apartment one year ago today. Two years before she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Lacey left the baby with a relative that day because she felt something in her "gut" was wrong. At 7 p.m. the evening of December 7, 2009 Lacey was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

I realize there is a backlog of cases, but this one deserves the attention of Investigators and the current States Attorney in Cook County, IL.  

In early 2009, she sought direction and support from various family members because she was a victim of domestic violence. Like many women, Lacey worked two jobs to support she and her child. She was an excellent mother.

On March 18, 2009, in a Cook County, Illinois court, a petition to establish parentage was filed by the baby's father, SANCHEZ REGELIO [Sanchez has used several alias in the past and I am not sure what legal name he is currently using]. The case link is HERE.  Everyone called him "Daniel" including Lacey. Sanchez took the paternity test and was proven to be the baby's father sometime in May of 2009.

Briefly in 2009, I spoke with Lacey on the phone and she was terrified of Daniel, the child's father. At that time, Lacey indicated she needed more time to think about the best plan of action for her safety, which is very common for any woman being abused, and I did not hear back from her.

A huge red flag, at least in my opinion, is the fact that Sanchez allowed the paternity case to go off the court call on September 25, 2009. Indicating to me that he was up to no good.

Lacey had begun a new life for herself by moving to a new residence and beginning a relationship with a man who did not abuse her. He was good for she and her son. Lacey hoped one day in the near future, after the couple married, he could adopt the child as his own.


Sanchez, according to sources, grew increasingly violent over the new relationship, abused Lacey each time he saw her or picked up the child during visitation, fitting the profile of "if I can't have her no one can." Remember, Lacey ended the relationship and Sanchez was enraged over her decision to go on with her life minus this coward. Most abusers cannot handle rejection, this includes Sanchez.

Now,  12 month's after Lacey Gaines murder, police in the town of Justice, Illinois still do no have a person in custody. Why does it take so long for justice in cases of intimate family homicide? 

Lacey Gaines did not deserve to die. In my opinion she stood up to the abuser and for that her life was taken away. Her son will never know the courage and warmth of this amazing woman.

Please, if you have information about this murder please call: 

Justice Police Department

Website: http://villageofjustice.org

Thomas C Bockmann, Deputy Chief of Police

7800 S Archer Rd, Justice, IL 60458

Ph: 708 458-2191

Or as always you can email me at murphymilano@gmail.com and I will forward the information.   

[Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visithttp://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/  She is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.  Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talk http://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr. Laurie Roth  http://www.therothshow.com/) ]

Who Murdered Irma Rodriquez?

“I am a family member and am extremely disappointed that the case has gone on deaf ears. I took Irma in the first time when husband tried to kill her and advised her to be strong and continue her life without him, but sometimes fear wins. Unfortunately, my dear niece is not here. Her keen spirit, those special memories, contagious smile and strength in God will live on in our hearts. I hope other women are reading this article and take seriously their current situation if there is any violence. Get out while there is time!”


In June of 2009, Irma Rodriguez, age 45,mother of three, was discovered in the trunk of her car. She had been shot dead. Just 3 days away from finalizing her divorce in Cook County, IL.

Norberto Rodriguez, is the "poster boy" of an dangerous and violent offender. During the couple's fifteen year marriage, orders of protection were filed, police were called to the home and Irma lived in fear for her life. In 1997, Norberto Rodriguez was charged with attempted first-degree murder after an argument in which he was accused of shooting Irma in the hand. Norberto was acquitted of the charges, but lost his job as a Chicago Police officer as a result. And in 2002, Norberto was arrested in connection with transprting heroin. He plead guilty and was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison and was released sometime in 2007.

As a victim of abuse Irma Rodriguez knew that if did not do as she was told by
Norberto, she would end up dead. Some people who knew her might question why she did not divorce him while in federal prison when she had the chance. It is not that easy. First she needed a plan and she was raising their children. Just because her husband was in jail did not necessarily equate to freedom. Even behind bars he controlled Irma with others on the outside. Norberto had strong ties to the street gangs and he made certain Irma knew her activities were always being monitored.

Since her murder, no one has been arrested. And according to sources authorities have no wtinesses to the crime. Perhaps if police released a photo of Norberto Rodriguez maybe someone would recognize him. Or if police decided, as they should, that Norberto Rodriquez is the only person with motive and he needs to be brought in for questioning. But to date the case is as dead as Irma Rodriguez was when her body was pulled out from the trunk of her car.

Maybe someone from the family can contact me to move this case from a cold metal file cabinet and into the light where it belongs, Irma's case could be solved. I can be reached at murphymilano@gmail.com

Special Series Part 3 "Is It Where They Wanna Be?"

Robert Dianovsky maintained that his wife Peggy left their home voluntarily and took a bag of clothing with her when she vanished in September of 1982. Peggy Dianovsky left her yellow Chevrolet Nova behind, and never picked up her last paycheck from her employer, Dominick's. Blood was found spattered at the top of the stairway in the Dianovsky home, but none of it was ever collected for analysis.

Robert took the boys and moved to Arizona sometime after 1982, he also filed for divorce claiming Peggy abondoned he and the children. He was charged with Peggy's murder in 2003. Their three sons went to the police in 2002 after tape-recording a conversation with Robert where he made suspicious statement about Peggy's disappearance. One of the Dianovsky children claims he witnessed his mother's murder, and all three of them say they saw Robert abuse and threaten Peggy. They claim they repressed the memories of the incidents but recovered them in therapy sessions as adults. One of Robert's friends also testified that Robert asked him for a gun in 1982 to "get rid of" Peggy. And Robert claimed his wife was having an affair.

In all, six hours of audio were taped when Dianovsky's three sons confronted him and accused him of their mother's murder. The sons contend their father killed Peggy Dianovsky on Sept. 12, 1982, in their Schaumburg, Ill., home during a brutal beating.

On the tapes, the accused man says, "I hit her pretty good." He also admits to previously saying his wife would never get out of the marriage alive. Dianovsky also said that he cut off his wife's tennis clothes in a jealous rage, and that his grown sons can tell their kids, "Your dad did something to her."

The trial took place in Cook County, Illinois before a judge rather than a jury. Judge Robert Porter acquitted Robert after an eight-day trial in November 2004. He stated that Peggy probably had in fact been murdered after her disappearance, but there was insufficient evidence to prove that Robert did it.

The relevance of the Robert Dianovsky case, in my opinion is important in the upcoming Drew Peterson trial as it pertains to evidence, also the State's burden to prove that Peterson murdered Kathleen Savio.

Drew Peterson is awaiting trial for the murder of Kathleen Savio, his third wife. The State in this case is working on the admittance of "hearsay testimony." Below is my explaination of hearsay as it would apply to the Peterson case.

Hearsay is an out of court statement "offered for the truth of the matter asserted" and not subject to cross-examination, typically because the declarant or speaker is unavailable. This applies to Stacy Peterson because she is not "available." Such statements are deemed unreliable because of the obvious fact that they can easily be fabricated and can not be tested through cross exaimination.

One basic way to get around hearsay is to seek admission, not for the truth of the statement itself, but for another highly relevant purpose. For example, let's say I am charged with intentionally shooting my daughter's boyfriend (which is not beyond realm of reason) while the two of them are harmlessly playing tie-up. Prior to bursting in the room and firing, I was told by her ex-boyfriend that the new guy was in the process of raping her. My defense is not intentional murder, but rather manslaughter because I believed the ex who has fled to Costa Rica and is unavailable at trial. Here I would offer his statement of rape, not because it was true, but because of the effect it had on my mental state, a very relevant fact in the case. Again, I am not offering it for its truth and therefore, whether it was fabricated is not in issue. Whether the statement was made and whether my response was reasonable (based upon my credibility) can all be determined by the trier of fact at trial because I, not the ex would be subject to cross.

In any event, statements can be admissible solely for their impact upon the listener (if relevant in a case) and not for the truth of the statement.

This approach should be very relevant to the statement Anna Domain (Kathleen Savio's sister) could testify to -"that Kathleen asked her to care for her kids."This is dynamite. Not offering it for the truth that Peterson said he wanted to kill her, but for the independent impact it had on her and her mental state to seek care for her children. Anna Domain could testify to her observations regarding Kathleen's credible belief that she needed to secure care for her kids because she was going to die soon. This really should have tremendous impact on the State's case assuming Anna Domain is well prepared on the stand. And fear is hearsay with no subsequent act reflecting impact on her mental state.

Now for the exceptions, which have literally swallowed up the general rule. Since the beginning of time, Courts have recognized certain fact patterns that contain such inherent elements of reliability so as to overcome the need for cross. All of this is based upon a notion of getting all relevant information to the jury subject to a prejudice to the defendant analysis -for the State this stuff is worth fighting over, it usually means "game over" for the defendant. Certain fact patterns below have crystallized into exceptions.

Dying Declaration- declarant unavailable says just before dying to witness "Mr. X shot me." Aadmissible based upon the notion that people who are dying do not typically have a motive to lie.Witness will testify as to demeanor of declarant.

Excited Utterrance-declarant screams "the plane is going to crash into the house" and witness doesn't see the plane. Here admission based on fact that when people are experiencing a startling event under stress they don't have time to fabricate.

Present sense Impression - same as above, except witness also experience the same event as the declarant and the declarant's statement is relevant.

The one used the most by prosecutor's and the one that is highly relevant for Peterson purposes is a "Statement Against Interest." For example if I told you that I did "dope and shit"the statment would be admissable based on the theory that people do not make up highly negative evidence against themselves, especially facts that would subject them to criminal prosecution.

This is highly relevant for Stacy's statements to Pastor Neil Schori and Mike Rossetto that she provided an alibi because it shows that she was willing to obstruct justice at Peterson's direction regarding Kathleen. Now maybe during the admissibility hearing the witnesses were weak on the statement or just did not have enough specifics and/or detail re:the circumstances of the meeting with Stacy to overcome the highly prejudicial impact of the statement.

The State's case has more twists and turns than a tornado. Will Drew Peterson be acquitted? Is the State's case strong enough? No one really knows what the outcome will be. What we do know is what Peterson said in interviews when Stacy vanished. And what Robert Dianovsky said 25 years earlier "it 's where she wants to be."

May each of these cowards rot in hell!

Remember to tune in every Monday evening at 9:00 PM EST with Former Atlanta Prosecutor turned defense attorney, Holly Hughes, Cold Case Institute Director, Sheryl McCull0m and Violence expert and author Susan Murphy Milano to "Intimate Partner Homicide Investigation", on Blogtalk radio. The show is interactive andd you can join in the case dicussions after each show by visiting our partner at Websleuths.com

Let's Make A Deal

Sandra Viramontes, 30, of Chicago, was beaten and bruised covering 90 percent of her body. No one could say for sure how many hours she was unconscious before her mother received a call from her son-in-law saying her daughter needed medical attention.

When the mother walked in to her daughter’s home Luis Viramontes, the son-in-law was gone in his place a relative who stood by and did nothing until the mother shouted to call 911. But it was too late.

At the hospital a trauma doctor informed the family “they had never seen anybody get a beating like that before.” Sandra’s had been beaten and bruised over 90 percent of her body. After the doctors ran tests the family was told her injuries were not survivable and two weeks later while in her mother’s she was taken off life support.

According to the Chicago Tribune Luis Viramontes was initially charged with aggravated domestic battery and attempted murder, according to court records. He turned himself 3 days after the beating to police on Jan. 13, 2010. He was out on $500,000 and ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device bail but was back in police custody Sunday, waiting to be charged with her murder.

My question is how the hell was this bozo allowed bail in the first place? Her condition was critical and she was not going to survive her injuries. Maybe the judge who set his bond did not consider Luis, "oh so gentle" as dangerous.

This is a classic case of senseless and ignorant denial. It makes my skin crawl when I read comments made by members or friends of a killer’s family, “he always been real gentle.” Another comment as if to set the tone when this case goes to trial, “Luis couldn’t sleep or he cried nonstop.” Was this before during and after the beating? Or was it only when this cowardly individual realized he’d better have a few witnesses to testify as to his acting out the part of showing remorse for murdering his wife and the mother of his two young children? He probably thought it all out and carefully deciding what he would tell the person who will represent him that he lost control or it was an accident he had no intention of hurting her. The defense attorney will respond something like “I’ll talk to the State and see if we can get the charges reduced to manslaughter or second degree murder. Or maybe he’ll get his client a deal. You know so he will not have to spend the rest of his life in prison.

To the family of Luis Viramontes' who are having trouble reconciling the charges against him with what they know about his personality. That is the million dollar question for which the answer is clear. Your “loving, gentle and warm” blood relative is nothing but a cold blooded murderer.

My Prayer’s are for Sandra’s children and her family. When Luis Viramontes killed Sandra he removed what will never be replaced, a precious life!

Court Ordered Execution

When a woman or man is a victim of violence in their home and they break the cycle by gaining the courage to leave the very legal system in place to protect seemingly does the most damage. Communication and training appears non-existant in courtrooms leaving tragedies of epidemic proportions as family members are left to discover gruesome crimes scenes followed by making funeral arrangements for innocent loved ones.

Who are the judges presiding in large and small court houses across the county? Are these men and women drapped in their black robes passing time until they retire and can collect a pension? Is any presiding judge on a bench in family or domestic relations court qualified to really make sound legal decsions? In my opinion the answer is no!

Amy Lichtenberg did everything in her power to keep she and her children safe. But the judge presiding over her case turned a deaf ear. Her dangerous and violent husband manipulated the legal system to gain access by wearing down the courthouse with the filing of one motion after another until a judge granted unsupervised visitation. Three weeks after the judge's decision Amy's children Jack and Duncan would be murdered by their father.

Annette Suzan Sowders-Fuller also continued within the legal system after she filed for divorce and obtain orders of protection in an attempt to keep her violent husband away from she and her two small children. Each time she entered a courtroom or called the police for help Annette's husbands violence escalated. It ended in August when he stormed into her home killing Annette and her mother Cheryl in front of her children.

Dawn Axsom and her attorney pleaded with a judge to allow her to leave Arizona with her two-year-old son.The judge denied the request. According to court testimony, Axsom’s estranged boyfriend, who had been arrested twice for DUI, was unemployed, and had made two failed suicide attempts was awarded by the judge who allowed visitation and requirined a drug, alcohol and a mental health evaluation to be completed within 60-days. Just 2 short weeks after that court ordered visiation the boyfriend murdered Dawn, her mother Linda and then committed suicide.

To say the courts do not take domestic violence seriously is an under statement. Without any consideration for prior arrests or current orders of protection judges are awarding individuals whom are a danger to their children visitation and custody. The abusers sole intent is to gain unlimited access to his victim. The abuser could care less about the children. Often an abuser is so enraged over the ending of the relationship the only interest they have is seeking revenge on their victim. Either by killing the person who ended the relationship or murdering the children keeping the victim alive and unharmed as a sick and twisted punishment for breaking up the family.

I have great respect for judges. What I do not respect is ignorance in a courtroom. These judges elected or appointed require more than a two week crash course in a classroom setting on "how to be a judge." Otherwise those court orders that they sign without consideration to human life will amount to nothing more than an a court ordered execution!

"Teaching Victims A Lesson?"

In an article titled “Slain mother’s fate could teach victims a lesson” referring to the recent murder of former Chicago police wife Irma Rodriguez who was shot numerous times and stuffed in the trunk of her car written by Chicago Sun-Times journalist Mary Mitchell, sadly this is not by any means a lesson.

A lesson perhaps would have been better served had the columnist spoke to the experts, people like myself, who have been in the trenches with victims of violence for over 20 years. First and foremost a domestic violence relationship is as specific as an individual’s own DNA. The victims like Irma fight each day just to stay alive. Irma Rodriguez did not have a free get out of jail card to simply allow her to leave her abusive and controlling husband.

In the article Mary Mitchell says “Irma’s best chance to save herself came in 1997, when her husband was arrested with attempted murder”, incorrect unless you happen to be a fly on the wall and know for a fact that Irma’s husband Norberto Rodriguez gave a direct order to his wife that if she did not change her story to the police he would kill she and the children. And the State’s Attorney’s office at the time offered little if anything other than lip service to assist her out of her deadly hell.

My own mother had little chance of living past the age 47, when after my parents divorced, my police detective father who by the way was still in control, murdered my mother because he was never going to allow her to live her life on her own terms. These women understand the dangers of living with their violent abuser. Often they feel it is better to keep their enemy close by remaining in the roller coaster relationship and waiting until their children are old enough and out of harm’s way before they make their move to safety. And many don’t make it. The abuser is so angry, eventually, he will kill her.

As a society we continue to look away with regards to crimes involving intimate relationships. Funding for animal shelters surpasses that of battered women shelters and services 6 to 1. And going to a shelter is not an option for many women.

Frankly, the word “lesson” is insulting especially when these victims eat, sleep and drink the lessons of fists and terror from their abusers on a daily basis.

Where are the police and prosecutors who suddenly become deaf when women go to them for assistance? Currently, I am working with several women where the police refused to do their jobs. Or the prosecutors failed at taking their calls or following up on charges. A few too many times of calling and asking for help gets old when your pleas fall on deaf ears. Kathleen Savio is a poor example of what does not happen as a victims pounds on the door for assistance only to wind up six feet under.

Perhaps a corporate sponsor within the Chicago Sun-Times or a corporation concerned with preventing murder like General Electric, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Coregis and any of the other companies who would benefit from a comprehensive strategy for saving lives created from women who lost their lives and would like to contact me so I can reach women like Irma, Kathleen, Stacy, Jackie, Theresa, Anna and so many others before they are murdered.

Maybe people can tune into Justice Interrupted Investigates on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 11:00PM EST, and hear how the system is failing a police officers wife where law enforcement have refused to do their jobs as blood ran down her face when she called for help. Then in a divorce action a judge in domestic relations in civil court literally has screwed over this woman all in the name of police connections and judicial closed door deals in chambers. So if she should die, is that a lesson for women? Or a system refusing to do anything?

Question: Why isn’t there an all points bulletin out for Norberto Rodriguez?