4 Women Killed In Domestic Violence In NJ In 2023, All In Just One County

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — They were both moms, both teachers of small children, and both violently killed in the last 19 days — and according to officials, they were both killed in acts of domestic violence.

In fact, four women in total were violently killed in Hudson County, New Jersey in the last four weeks, officials have said. Two were teachers in Jersey City.

Temara King won "Inclusion Teacher of the Year" in 2018. King was fatally shot on Jan. 26 in front of her 15-year-old daughter, police said, which "leaves her with no parents" because of the husband's arrest.

Then Luz Hernandez, a kindergarten teacher working on her master's degree, was killed earlier this month, leaving behind children 3, 9, and 12 — two who attended the school where she taught.

"It’s already been a tough year with two terrible homicides via domestic violence in Jersey City," Steven Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City, said Saturday. "We’ll continue to put serious investment here and we will innovate with programs to help."

If it seems like domestic violence killings are on the rise in New Jersey, it may be because domestic violence tends to rise in January, local experts say, especially around New Year's Day. But it's unusual that all four of the cases reported to the media as possible domestic violence incidents in 2023 have occurred in just one of New Jersey's 21 counties.

Does Hudson County Have A Domestic Violence Problem?

While there have been other homicides of women in the state so far this year — such as the fatal shooting of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour last month, and the shooting death of mother-of-two Stephanie Vil in Burlington over the weekend — the motives are still under investigation.

In Hudson County, besides the two teachers in Jersey City, a woman was stabbed to death last Tuesday in West New York, and a man was arrested and charged with stabbing his mother to death in Harrison on Jan. 17.

Aside from the four fatalities, a Jersey City man was accused of stabbing a woman and her 11-year-old son on Jan. 15, but both survived.

In the past, Hudson County — which contains Jersey City, the second largest city in the state — has been criticized by activists for lacking domestic violence programs other counties had.

A forum on domestic violence held in the county in 2017 focused on telling victims to "love themselves."

Jersey City Mayor Fulop Responds

In the wake of the second teacher's death, Jersey City's mayor addressed the city Saturday.

"We’re the only municipality in NJ that offers a free domestic violence program for offenders via our municipal court," Fulop said. "It’s is called the Peaceful Families program. It is 27 weeks long program and a very intensive class. About 90 percent of all defendants are required to participate as a prerequisite to disposition of their case.

"We offer that class to both men and women. We offer English and Spanish and we are working on more languages and more classes — LBGTQ, etc. Furthermore, if the defendant needs additional services, such as substance abuse counseling, the program assists with that referral ... So as a city, we try to assist both sides- both the defender and the victim."

But will it be enough to address the roots of the problem?

In America, two to three women per day are killed in domestic violence incidents, according to FBI statistics.

Those numbers are often incomplete, as the relationship between victim and perpetrator is not always immediately known. A daily check of news reports on the incidents often turns up higher numbers, Patch found in 2021. READ MORE: How Common Are Cases Like Gabby Petito's?

Several high-profile domestic violence cases were reported across the country in recent weeks, including a mass shooting in Utah on Jan. 4 with seven victims. The perpetrator had a history of abuse, stories said.

The CDC recommends a package of programs to such as one in which high school athletic coaches teach people young about respect in relationships.

One Man Still At Large

Donations continue to pour in for a GoFundMe for Luz Hernandez's three children.

"Being your TA was one of the best things that ever happened to me in my life," wrote a donor this weekend. "When it came to the kids and your work friends, you were completely selfless ... I will love you always and forever sweet angel ❤️. We will all make sure [your three children] are taken care of. A piece of our world will never be the same."

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office is still looking for a second man in connection with the death of Hernandez. READ MORE: 1 Man Arrested, 1 Sought In Death Of Jersey City Teacher

Where To Get Help

Each county in New Jersey has a domestic violence agency, and the state has its own hotline.

The national domestic violence hotline, reachable through phone, text, or chat, is 800-799-SAFE (7233), or you can text "Start" to 88788 to reach them by text.

The New Jersey hotline is 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). The list of county agencies and other information on how to protect oneself legally in New Jersey is here.