Last Thursday, over 100 people gathered together at the Johnston County courthouse to remember victims of domestic violence incidents in the county.

In the last month Johnston County has seen a number of high profile domestic violence cases, including one recent one resulting in the death of a 4-year old girl.  A week earlier, Devinne House and her son were killed by her husband and on July 1st, Elizabeth Reyes was shot by and killed by her husband.   

A spokesperson for Harbor Inc., a Johnston County non-profit helping domestic violence victims, stated, "This is a severe problem in all communities, not just Johnston County...It's all across North Carolina and the United States".  

Johnston County District Attorney Susan Doyle stated, "As friends, as neighbors, as family members, we can make a promise to do a better job; to be aware of circumstances that might be occurring right next door or in our families and not be afraid to step in".  

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the remembered victims. 

On July 10th, the second annual Butterfly 5K Fun Run will be taking place at 8:30 AM in WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina to benefit victims of domestic violence in memory of Nancy Cooper.

Nancy Cooper was from Cary and was found dead in an undeveloped subdivision just miles from her home in July 2008.  Cooper's friends and family believe that her husband was abusing her and cut her off financially, making it difficult for her and her two daughters to leave.  Cooper's husband, Bradley Cooper, is in jail waiting trial in October.  

Proceeds of the run will go to Nancy's Butterfly Fund, a program that helps women in abusive situations become more financially independent and able to escape unhealthy or dangerous situations.  The fund was established in 2009 in memory of Nancy Cooper.  A Butterfly Fund organizer stated, "Not only do we remember our friend, but in her honor, others are helped".

Interact, a Wake County domestic violence shelter, developed a list of fourteen questions for law enforcements officials in North Carolina to use to assess the risk of domestic violence in a situation.  

Interact supports victims of domestic violence and promotes awareness of domestic violence.  Interact's clinical educational director, Stephanie Francis, believes that the questions not only help police determine the risk of abuse but also victims.  "It's easy to not want to believe how dangerous the situation can be," stated Francis.

The questions address threats, violent tendencies, weapons, and the victim's thoughts.  For example, has the physical violence increased in frequency in the past six months or year?  What do you think will happen between you and your partner in the near future?  Are you expecting a violent attack?  

If a victim answers yes to three or more of the fourteen questions they are considered to be at high risk.

If you or someone you love has been a victim of domestic violence, contact the Raleigh domestic violence lawyers of Marshall & Taylor P.C. at 919-833-1040 to learn more about your rights. 

The week of Father's Day is also National Men's Health Week which recognizes health issues specific to men.

One issue often ignored is male victims of domestic violence.  While women do make up the large majority, 85 to 95 percent, of domestic violence victims, men can just as easily be victims of physical and verbal abuse.

The exact number of male victims is very hard to determine because the numbers are low, and made even lower due to the assumptions that men cannot be victims of domestic abuse.  Domestic violence experts and psychologists believe that many men are reluctant to admit that they have been abused.  Furthermore, signs of domestic abuse easily noticed in women, like bruising or injuries, are often simply regarded as sports or work injuries in men.

While it is crucial to stop domestic violence against women, it is very important that domestic violence against men be recognized and not hidden in order to put an end to it as well.

If you or someone you love has been a victim of domestic violence, contact the Raleigh domestic violence lawyers of Marshall & Taylor P.C. at 919-833-1040 to learn more about your rights.

A recent study by Dr. Renee Boynton-Jarrett of Boston University's School of Medicine reveals a newfound link between family abuse and childhood obesity.

In the study, Boynton-Jarrett and her team observed 1,595 children born between the years 1998 and 2000.  Most children were from unwed parents.  The mothers of the children were interviewed from the child's birth up until the age of 5.  Moreover, the children's height and weight were measured at age 3 and age 5.  The study ended when every child had reached the age of 5.  At this point, 49.4 percent of children had been exposed to family violence, and 16.5 percent were considered obese.  Boynton-Jarrett and her team concluded that children whose mothers suffered chronic domestic violence were 80 percent more likely to become obese by the age of 5. 

In addition to the possibility of obesity, if children do become obese they also have a greater chance of suffering from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses later in life.  Boynton-Jarrett stated, "It's always sobering to see the vast impact that adversities in early life can have on long term health outcomes". 

If you or someone you love has been a victim of domestic violence, contact the Raleigh domestic violence lawyers of Marshall & Taylor P.C. at 919-833-1040 to learn more about your rights.

The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence will unveil a new plan to promote healthy relationships and prevent domestic violence.

The new plan will be unveiled this week at a biennial conference in Durham. North Carolina  was one of the 14 states that recieved money from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention in order to create campaigns to prevent domestic violence. Parts of the new program is to teach local faith leaders how they can help prevent domestic violence.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of domestic violence, you need experienced representation on your side. Contact the Raleigh domestic violence lawyers of Marshall & Taylor, P.C. by calling 919- 833-1040.

A North Carolina couple was arrested after reportedly hitting each other repeatedly.

 The man approached authorities while at the hospital and told them that he had punched his wife in the face. The man told police that him and his wife had been fighting all day and tensions rose after they were drinking in a bar. He claimed that his wife had also been hitting him and he was just trying to defend himself. The wife claimed that her husband also did not mean to hit her and that he was just trying to defend himself.

She said that she was very upset and stressed about her mother being in the hopsital and that this was the reason for the figthing. The couple was arrested for criminal domestic violence and both were taken to jail.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of domestic violence, contact the Raleigh domestic violence lawyers of Marshall & Taylor, P.C. by calling  919-833-1040 today.