SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Springfield-area leaders are hoping a string of 12 violent or suspicious deaths in an eight-day span will increase awareness of a problem that has plagued the region for many years.
Investigators have said at least seven of the deaths recorded were linked to domestic violence, including a murder-suicide in Willard Feb. 12, a double homicide in Springfield Feb. 13 and the deaths of three people whose bodies were found on Feb. 20 in a burning house in Springfield, The Springfield News-Leader reported (http://sgfnow.co/1BgoiJX).
The deaths came two weeks before seven people were shot to death by a gunman who then shot himself in Tyrone, about 90 miles east of Springfield.
Springfield police responded to 2,701 domestic assaults last year, giving the city the highest rate of domestic violence incidents per capita of any city in the state.
Esther Munch, director of development at Harmony House domestic violence center, said the recent violence highlights a persistent problem. Her center's 110 beds are full every night and works with another 150 people on an outreach basis. The center turned away more than 1,600 people in 2013 and even more in 2014.
"The key to turning this around is we have to bring it out in the open," Munch said.
Springfield police are working to reduce domestic violence with initiatives such as the Family Violence Task Force, which was formed in 2013. They also use a new assessment to show victims how much danger they are in and are working with prosecutors to keep repeat offenders behind bars.
Brandi Bartel, executive director of the Victim Center, which provides services to victims of violent or sexual crimes, said she wondered if some of the domestic violence-related deaths of recent weeks might have been prevented if the victims had reached out for help in the past.
"My first reaction is this is an incredible tragedy," Bartel said. "I think it is deeply terrible to know that these victims didn't have intervention or didn't seek the help that they needed and those situations escalated to the point of death."
She said she hopes the homicides will increase awareness and concern in Springfield.
"We are hoping that the community will take any anger that they have, any sadness that they have and redirect those emotions and those normal human responses into efforts to assist those in our community in hopes that we don't have to talk about (homicides like this) ever again," Bartel said.
Bartel said organizations need volunteers and financial support to better serve the victims of domestic violence.
"We need more people behind us and working alongside with us," Bartel said. "It will truly take a community-wide effort to turn the tables on this issue."