Taking Care of Business?

Family homicide has claimed four more victims. Forget for a moment that 2 adults and 2 children's bodies were discovered in an "upscale gated community" in San Clemente, California, just hours ago.
Murder within the home is not a crime associated by the amount of zero's on a bank statement or whether its' victim live on Park Avenue or the lowest rent district in a community. We live in a country where murdering your wife, husband and kids and committing suicide is so common we barely blink an eye when we read or hear about such horrific crimes with our morning cup of coffee. And we can expect this epidemic to wipe out more lives before the New Year as husbands and yes, wives carry out their own personal form of justice and revenge.

The reason for the murders will vary depending on the each person's frame of mind. Some will have a relationship outside the home and feel that killing their spouse is the only way out, allowing them to be free of financial burdens, wiping the slate clean so they can begin anew. And those similar to the person in California who was so angry over the ending of the "family unit" they kill everyone and then turn the gun on themselves.
Just yesterday, Jason Young, after 3 years, was finally indicted in North Carolina for the murder of wife Michelle Young, who was pregnant at the time. Young, like so many who are finally charged, do not take their own life as they believe they will never "get caught."
[Michelle Young]

Over Thanksgiving after the couple had separated, Karen Kahler of Kansas moved she and her children out of the marital home to begin their lives without violence. But, her husband Kraig Kahler, like so many abusers wasn't having any of it, "who does she think she is, no one leaves me." On November 28th, 2009, Karen Kahler and her daughters Emily, Lauren and her grandmother were shot to death by her estranged husband while they were visiting a relative. the Thanksgiving holiday. He was arrested several hours later and has been charged with capital murder.

Another case unsolved to date is the murder of Michigan Mother of 3, Renee Pagel , found stabbed to death in her bed recovering from surgery, (after donating a kidney to a complete stranger) just days away from her divorce being finalized. According to close friends and relatives the grade school teacher and a registered nurse told others she was in "fear for her life." A week before her murder she changed the beneficiary of her life insurance policy from her estranged husband to a close family friend.

Her estranged husband, Michael Pagel, is the only person who has not voluntarily cooperated with police, nor has he provided an alibi to police for the night of Renee's murder. He retains custody of the couple's children.

Susan Powell mysteriously vanished last week leaving her purse and keys inside the home where she was last seen alive by her husband, Josh, at 12:30 in the morning. He suddenly decided to take his 2 small children on a camping trip. He is a person of interest and has now lawyered up as he faces questioning in her disappearance.

Other cases where wives have gone missing without explanation , Lisa Stebic disappeared in 2007, her husband Craig and she were in divorce court, has not been charged but is a person of interest. Former police officer Drew Peterson arrested for the murder of wife #3 Kathleen Savio, has yet to be charged with the homicide of Stacy Peterson, wife #4 whose body has not been found since she disappeared in October of 2007. Renee Pernice of Kansas vanished( divorce pending) in January of 2009 and her fire fighter husband Shon Pernice remains of person of interest.

The address are all different, the outcome is almost identical. Not one of these women would ever leave without their children. And they were each good women who did not deserve to be erased from life.

In a note written by my father after my mother was murdered, before his committing suicide, sums it up:

"This is business only, no one leaves me and gets away with it."

White House Press Release Won't Stop The Slaughter

At the begining of October President Obama issued a Proclaimation as it relates to this being National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. With great admiration for our President, without a strategic plan of action words in a press release do nothing to stop the slaughter of Americans' and their children suffering from an epidemic where bodily harm and murder are taking the lives of innocent victims due partially to lack of funding and services for its' victims.

Perhaps the President and his administration would consider creating a campaign asking prominent sports figures (that don't have a history of violence themselves) to participate in public service announcements during televised games sending a message that violence is not acceptable behavior, it is a criminal offense and just like drunk driving you will be arrested and prosecuted.

Another suggestion is to create a brief message for school students delivered by President Obama himself to classrooms benefiting those whose voices are silenced because they believe violence is a way of life in their own homes.

The current admistration has the power to change the plight for victims of violence in our nation. It requires a heck of a lot more than issuing a proclaimation that most will never read because they have already lost their lives!

President Obama's proclamation:

THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press SecretaryFor Immediate Release October 1, 2009 NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, 2009- - - - - - -BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAA PROCLAMATION

Domestic violence touches the lives of Americans of allages, leaving a devastating impact on women, men, and children of every background and circumstance. A family's home becomesa place of fear, hopelessness, and desperation when a woman isbattered by her partner, a child witnesses the abuse of a lovedone, or a senior is victimized by family members. Since the 1994passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act, championed by then Senator Joe Biden, our Nation has strengthened its responseto this crime and increased services for victims. Still, far toomany women and families in this country and around the world areaffected by domestic violence. During National Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month, we recommit ourselves to ending violence withinour homes, our communities, and our country.

To effectively respond to domestic violence, we must provideassistance and support that meets the immediate needs of victims.Facing social isolation, victims can find it difficult to protectthemselves and their children. They require safe shelter andhousing, medical care, access to justice, culturally specificservices, and economic opportunity. The Family ViolencePrevention and Services Act supports emergency shelters, crisisintervention programs, and community education about domesticviolence.

In the best of economic times, victims worry about finding ajob and housing, and providing for their children; these problemsonly intensify during periods of financial stress. That is whythe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $325 millionfor the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims ofCrime Act (VOCA). This funding will supplement the Federal VAWAand VOCA dollars that flow to communities every year, and enableStates, local governments, tribes, and victim service providersto retain and hire personnel that can serve victims and holdoffenders accountable. These funds will also bring relief tovictims seeking a safe place to live for themselves and their children.

Victims of violence often suffer in silence, not knowingwhere to turn, with little or no guidance and support. Sadly,this tragedy does not just affect adults. Even when childrenare not directly injured by violence, exposure to violence inthe home can contribute to behavioral, social, and emotionalproblems. High school students who report having experiencedphysical violence in a dating relationship are more likely touse drugs and alcohol, are at greater risk of suicide, and maycarry patterns of abuse into future relationships. Our effortsto address domestic violence must include these young victims.

During this month, we rededicate ourselves to breaking thecycle of violence. By providing young people with educationabout healthy relationships, and by changing attitudes thatsupport violence, we recognize that domestic violence can beprevented. We must build the capacity of our Nation's victimservice providers to reach and serve those in need. We urgecommunity leaders to raise awareness and bring attention tothis quiet crisis. And across America, we encourage victims andtheir families to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at1-800-799-SAFE. Together, we must ensure that, in America, novictim of domestic violence ever struggles alone.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of theUnited States of America, by virtue of the authority vestedin me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States,do hereby proclaim October 2009, as National Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month. I ask all Americans to do their part to end domestic violence in this country by supporting their communities' efforts to assist victims in finding the helpand healing they need.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thisfirst day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine,and of the Independence of the United States of America thetwo hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

# # #