Domestic Violence Headline News for the Week of Feb. 3, 2025

Parents of Stabbing Victim to Sue Philadelphia Officials, Case to Reopen

A judge ruled that the parents of Ellen Greenberg, a young woman found stabbed to death more than 20 times in her apartment over a decade ago, can go forward with a lawsuit against city officials for emotional distress. 

Josh and Sandee Greenberg have never believed that their 27-year-old daughter, a seemingly happy elementary school teacher in Philadelphia, took her own life in January 2011. Her fiancé, Sam Goldberg, found Ellen’s body after returning from their apartment building’s gym, her body punctured more than 20 times with the knife handle still sticking out of her chest. The city’s assistant medical examiner, Dr. Marlon Osbourne, after discovering some of Ellen’s stab wounds were in the back of her head, initially ruled the woman’s death a homicide. Three months later, however, he would change his mind. Her official cause of death: suicide. 

The Greenberg’s have been battling that ruling ever since, saying their daughter alluded to being unhappy in her relationship with Goldberg and told them only a week prior to her death that she wanted to move home. Their lawsuit alleges emotional distress from the Philadelphia Police Department and Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office. In an additional win, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office has agreed to reopen Ellen’s case and review her cause of death.

"I'm speaking to the world," Josh told CBS News. "Ellen did not commit suicide."

Hidden homicides are an ongoing concern for domestic violence advocates and investigators across the country. The term refers to murders perpetrated by abusive partners who then stage the crime scenes in order for the victims’ deaths to look like suicides. 

Casey Gwinn and Gael Strack, founders of Alliance for HOPE International, were instrumental in researching and authoring SB 989, also known as the “Suspicious Death Bill” or “Joanna’s Law” which passed in California last year. It was signed into law in September. The bill allows families to request additional scrutiny of death cases that they believe are suspicious after a history of domestic violence. The bill was named in honor of Joanna Hunter, whose 2011 death in Solana County, Calif., was also ruled a suicide before a proper investigation into ongoing abuse by her ex-partner could be looked into.  

Sources: CBS News, A&E

New Gabby Petito Documentary Coming to Netflix Feb. 17

“American Murder: Gabby Petito,” a three-part documentary series, will air on Netflix beginning Feb. 17. The real-time documentary will follow the disappearance of 22-year-old Petito in 2021 during a cross-country camping trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie, who was later discovered to have murdered her. Laundrie died by suicide before he could be arrested.

Petito’s mom, Nichole Schmidt, who since began the Gabby Petito Foundation in honor of her daughter, tells DomesticShelters.org that she was consulted on and included in the documentary. “There's still so much untold, but they did a beautiful job of showcasing Gabby and her story.”

Petito’s murder came two weeks after Moab, Utah police stopped the couple after a witness saw Laundrie strike Petito. Laundrie was not arrested even though police determined he had assaulted Petito. Abusers often escalate their violence.

A medical examiner later determined that Laundrie had strangled Petito to death. It wasn’t the first time Laundrie had put his hands around Petito’s neck—Schmidt confirmed to DomesticShelters.org that a friend of her daughter’s had confided in her that strangulation was something Laundrie liked to do during intimacy. Strangulation is known to be the most glaring predictor of homicide later on by an abusive partner. In a study of homicide victims killed by an intimate partner, it was found that 43 percent had experienced a non-fatal strangulation by their partner prior to their murder. 

A common misnomer is that consensual strangulation, or “choking” as many people misname it, during intimacy is somehow safe. Experts attest there is no such thing as safe strangulation, even when consensual. It takes very little pressure to obstruct blood flow or airflow. Unconsciousness can occur in a matter of seconds, death within minutes and delayed death may occur days, weeks or months later. 

Source: Denver Gazette 

California Police Officer Investigated for Not Documenting Domestic Violence 

A new internal affairs report out of the Fresno, Calif., police department revealed that a former Fresno police officer is under investigation after he filed false reports and failed to take action in response to a domestic violence victim. Officer Dave Dechow responded to more than 10 domestic violence calls at one residence in a five-month span but failed to document the ongoing abuse. 

A woman called police around 1 a.m. on March 23, 2022, to report that her ex-husband, who was living with her at the time, had punched her in the face earlier. The woman had photos of her injury and a blanket with her blood on it, but Dechow declined to look at the photos or follow-up with any witnesses. The victim’s ex-husband had already left the scene. 

The woman said she did not initially call police because her ex-husband was on probation and she didn’t want him to get arrested. When her ex returned to the scene, Dechow did not arrest him. When the officer filed the police report later, he marked it as “information only,” meaning no crime had occurred. When Dechow responded to another call at the same victim’s house a month later, he noted in his report that the last known domestic violence incident was in 2017. 

When the woman wanted to file an order of protection against her ex-husband, she asked police for the report of the abuse only to find out Dechow never documented it.

In a survey on DomesticShelters.org, when survivors were asked if they had experienced discrimination from law enforcement after calling to report abuse, 57 percent said yes, they had experienced police not believing them when they called to report being in immediate danger. Survivors who call police after an abusive incident should consider asking for medical attention, not only to make sure they’re OK but as another way to document the abusive incident. For more information, read, “Help Police Determine Who is the Primary Aggressor.”

Dechow opted to retire in December 2022 amidst the investigation into his inaction, though he may not have escaped punishment. Senate Bill 2, which became law in California in 2021, requires investigations into potential discipline of police officers even if they retire or resign before such investigations are complete. 

Source: Fresno Bee

Was Bianca Censori Coerced to Walk Naked at Grammy’s?

Viewers of Sunday night’s Grammy’s were shocked to see model Bianca Censori, rapper Kanye West’s wife, walk the red carpet in a sheer dress, essentially naked. Now, many question whether she is safe or a victim of domestic violence.

A video from the red carpet showed Censori, 30, initially covered in a large jacket. When the couple faced the paparazzi, West then whispered something to her and Censori. A lip reading expert revealed West’s words were, “You’re making a scene now.” Censori’s face was expressionless as she dropped the coat while photographers eagerly snapped pictures.

It’s not the first time Censori has been spotted with West nearly naked, raising concerns that West may be intentionally humiliating her as a form of power and control. Abusers use emotional abuse, sometimes called psychological abuse, through bullying, degradation, gaslighting and more in order to tear down a survivor’s self-esteem, silencing them and creating a dependence on the abuser for feelings of worth. Nonphysical forms of abuse can often escalate into physical violence as abusers become more emboldened. For more information, read “What Is Emotional Abuse?”

Source: Newsweek