The Big Picture: Local Teen Killed

Friday, January 16, 2009

Local Teen Killed

From the AJC:

The teen whose body was found in a Clarkston trash bin apparently was choked to death by her boyfriend, Clarkston Police Chief Tony Scipio said Friday.

Scipio said Shannon Cade, 17, has been charged with murdering Britney Wells, also 17, in his apartment on Smith Street. The Clarkston High student’s body was found in the bin outside Cade’s apartment early Thursday.

Police believe Wells went to Cade’s apartment voluntarily but then was held against her will, Scipio said.

Cade remained jailed without bond Friday. A 14-year-old, whose name was withheld because of his age, has been charged with concealing Wells’ death.

This tragedy hits us especially hard because Clarkston is right in our back yard. We have made ourselves available to Clarkston High School to speak with the students and faculty, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Wells family for this horrible loss.

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Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through physical, sexual, emotional, and/or financial abuse. Both men and women are capable of misusing power and perpetrating violence, and male victims are often just as afraid to call the police. More resources for female survivors exist, however, because overwhelmingly women and children suffer the most severe consequences (medical, legal, social, and financial) and therefore require the most intensive interventions.

Many women choose to stay in abusive relationships because they do not want their relationship to end...just the violence. Women often remain in, or return to, abusive relationships because their partners threaten to harm them and their loved ones if they attempt to leave. Commonly, women choose to leave when they become convinced that their life is at risk, or that their children are in danger.

Domestic violence is not just a "family matter". The violence will not stop until men and women come together with a common attitude of non-tolerance. We must speak out for those who may not feel safe speaking up, and our children must learn through our words and example that violence is never justified.