Domestic Violence Down in Huntley, Victims Still Out There

Huntley police have seen a 25 percent decrease in domestic violence calls from January to April of this year yet the department had a domestic violence homicide _ the first murder in three years _ during the same period.

It was Michelle Mathieu’s violent death _ described as heinous by authorities_ that brought domestic violence experts and about 60 people to Sun City’s Drendel ballroom Tuesday night to talk about the topic and learn about the cycle of domestic violence.

“We had a terrible tragic domestic incident in our community, we felt something needed to be done so Michelle’s death didn’t go in vain,” said Karen Kennedy, president of the Neighbors Advisory Council for Sun City.

Mathieu died March 24. Her boyfriend, Robert Signorile, is charged with first- degree murder.

Domestic violence has been increasing in the village with 412 calls reported in 2011, up from 378 in 2010, Hooten said. Mathieu’s death was the second domestic violence homicide in the last few years.

Huntley Police Chief John Perkins set a goal for the department to decrease domestic violence calls by 5 percent this year, said Hooten, who heads the department’s domestic violence efforts.

Hooten instituted changes to the department’s procedures _ specifically its follow up in domestic violence cases _ requiring officers to delve more deeply into the causes and taken additional training.

“The domestic (calls) are drastically down this year, which is great,” Hooten said. “They are one of our most serious calls we go on and the ones we spend most time on.”

Yet she’s not sure if the changes have led to the decrease because it’s hard to quantify, she said.

It’s also hard to identity specific the signs of domestic abuse because cases are different. The classic signs are bruises, broken bones, wearing long sleeves in warm weather, limited access to money or credit cards and rarely going out in public without his or her partner.

If you suspect domestic abuse, there are things to do and not to do.

Do:

• Ask if something is wrong
• Express concern
• Listen and validate
• Offer help
• Support his or her decision
• Know where to go for help, for example McHenry County Turning Point or Crisis Center in Elgin

“The main thing is to be there for them don’t judge don’t refer to other people,” Hooten said.

Don’t:

• Wait for him or her to come to you
• Judge or blame
• Pressure him or her
• Give advice
• Place conditions on your support

It often takes victims a while to leave an abusive relationship, Hooten said. Police usually respond seven to 10 times to calls before a victim decides to leave a relationship for good, she said.

“There have been farm more domestics than that, they just don’t report it,” she said. “For a victim to come forward it’s a huge step and it’s a risky step. When a victim decides to leave, it becomes volatile.”

Dawn Koch, a counselor with McHenry County Turning Point, said there are three questions to ask if one thinks a relative or friend is a victim of domestic abuse:

• Do you feel your partner is very controlling?
• Does your partner blame you for everything in your relationship?
• Does your partner often accuse you of being unfaithful?

The answers can be very telling, Koch said.