The number of Domestic Violence homicides in Kent County has nearly doubled this year, that’s according to a West Michigan nonprofit that’s been tracking cases.
Tara Aday works as the Senior Program Director for Safe Haven Ministries, an abuse prevention shelter, and also co-chairs the Kent County Domestic Violence Community Coordinated Response Team (DVCCRT).
The groups have been working with the Kent County Prosecutors Office over the years to track domestic violence homicides. Aday told WGVU the case count has nearly doubled since 2021, with at least 10 recorded instances this year.
“The severity and intensity of domestic violence is continuing to grow and as we’re coming out of the pandemic there’s just so much need,” she said.
Aday is the first to note, these numbers aren’t concrete. While the State of Michigan collects data on overall homicides, she said there isn’t a comprehensive data base dedicated to domestic violence homicides. Tracking through the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office provides hard numbers on cases, but there can be blind spots.
“If it is a murder-suicide, often times there isn’t an ongoing case because the murderer, the perpetrator, has also killed themselves. There’s no one for the prosecutor to charge. So their (Kent County Prosecutor’s Office) data also isn’t comprehensive. It’s not always capturing the full number,” she explained.
Both Safe Haven Ministries and Kent County DVCCRT have implemented prevention networks across the county, but Aday said more resources are needed to address safety and prevention. She currently has an application into the Kent County Board of Commissioners to bring a domestic violence court to the area.
Safe Haven Ministries’ 24/7 domestic violence hotline can be reached by call or text at 616-452-6664.
