The Big Picture: Murder-Suicide in Monroe County

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Murder-Suicide in Monroe County

The Monroe County Sheriff's Department is reporting another murder-suicide in Georgia.

Two bodies from an apparent murder-suicide found Wednesday in north Monroe County were identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation late this afternoon, officials from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said.

According to fingerprint analysis by the GBI, the bodies were identified as Tim Maza, 55, and Christina Mae Reeves, 42. Allison Willis, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said they were a common-law couple who had previous domestic issues.

Preliminary results of the investigation suggest that Reeves died from a gunshot wound to the head while Maza died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. There was no suicide note found at the crime scene, Willis said.

We applaud Macon.com for being the only news source recognizing a pattern of abuse and drawing attention to the open domestic violence case involving the couple. Our thoughts and prayers, as always, are with the family.

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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.