How Effective Is GPS Monitoring For Victims of Domestic Violence?

Susan Murphy Milano blogged about the case of alleged double-murderer Derrick Yancey, former police officer charged with killing his wife and a day laborer. She often writes about the perils that wives of officers face when trying to end a relationship, and often, with nowhere to turn, wind up dead.

Such was the case for Linda Yancey not long after she made mistake number one, announcing her intentions. There are several things that must be done when leaving a dangerous relationship and Susan lays it out in her books, "Defending Our Lives" and "Moving Out, Moving On" which includes a workbook format. It is imperative that these women follow strict safety plans, but unfortunately, Linda Yancey didn't know about it, as well as thousands of other domestic violence victims who will wind up with the same fate.

Last week it was reported that Derrick Yancey, who is out on bond had escaped from his GPS bracelet and escaped his house arrest. The shocking thing about this is that it took 11 hours before the chain of command from the monitoring company to officials was completed and a manhunt began! How far can you get in 11 hours? If you have transportation, you could get half way across the country!

Many survivors of domestic violence are depending on GPS monitoring to keep themselves and their children alive. These offenders, in most cases, will not give up the hunt and want to regain the control they lost while in prison or jail. GPS is, for now, one of the most valuable tools a victim has to know where that offender is lurking. But how good is the technology when the company that is hired to monitor falls asleep at the wheel?

An article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution today explains the turn of events and how that chain of command broke down in the early hours of the morning as Derrick Yancey slipped out of his GPS and took off to parts unknown.

From the looks of the article there is a lot of blame to go around for this bumble, starting with the monitoring company and delays all the way to the top.

More than four hours passed from the time an alarm beeped from Yancey’s ankle monitor at 5:41 a.m. Saturday to the time authorities made their first attempts to determine Yancey’s whereabouts, according to the statement from Chief Magistrate Judge Winston Bethel, who oversees DeKalb’s Pretrial Services.

A phone message from the private monitoring firm to the company overseeing Yancey’s home arrest was not picked up until three hours later. Another hour passed before that company notified Pretrial Services, and it took 10 hours for court officials to notify the Sheriff’s Office that Yancey had fled.

The people responsible for monitoring Yancey never reached him by phone, according to a timeline released with the report.

If Derrick Yancey is roaming around your neighborhood tonight, armed and dangerous, or if he decides to murder someone else, where should the blame fall? This man needs to be apprehended soon, although the object of his rage is already dead, he needs to be brought to justice in her honor.

GPS is not always a false hope for abused and battered women, sometimes it's the only hope!

Look for Susan’s upcoming book, “Time’s Up; A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships” to be released Summer of 2009.  

Check the time, it’s UP, do not hesitate to claim your ticket towards a lifetime of freedom from of abuse and visit Susan’s site  for lifesaving advice, inspiration and clear directions , including her vital and impacting, currently available resource, “Moving out, Moving on.”

The Susan Murphy Milano Show airs each Wednesday afternoon at 4pm EST, a must hear source for all those affected by the painful cruelty of a life abused.

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Contact:
Sara Huizenga

Peki Jones
ImaginePublicity

http://imaginepublicity.wordpress.com

imaginepublicity@gmail.com



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Recipe For Hope, Stacy Peterson

Are you sick and tired of seeing the shenanigans of Drew Peterson and his merry band of pranksters constantly in the news and on your TV? Have you had about enough of this constant barrage of disrespect for the mothers of his children? What can you do about it? What can you do to bring back the respect and dignity to this three ring circus?

There is a group of people on the internet that are fighting to do just that.

This group would like to see the dignity and respect for Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio be restored, not only on the internet, but in mainstream media as well.

If Stacy or Kathleen had reached out to a domestic violence organization, maybe they would be here today to relate their stories.

This group would like to raise money to bolster the efforts of local domestic violence organizations and the way they would like to do that is publish a cookbook.

Not just any ordinary cookbook, but a cookbook with recipes along with safety tips for women caught in this cycle of abuse. Are you a survivor of violence, or is someone you know caught in an abusive relationship. Some of these tips you offer could save someone's life.

This is one of the easiest, no cost to you, things you can do! Just write out your favorite recipe, add your name and city, if you like, and email it to:

recipesforstacy@gmail.com

Oh! One more thing!!...Please, please include any safety tips for that someone you know who is looking to safely get out of the cycle of abuse! These valuable tips will be included in the cookbook in recipe form.....sort of like 1oz. of prevention, 1C safety, stir in a pinch of caution and don't let it boil over!

All of the printing costs are donated and ALL proceeds will go to an organization that helps women safely survive!

DO IT TODAY!






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Another Act of Murder, the Result of Domestic Violence

Sheriff: Suspect Was Digging Wife's Grave

Man Was Using Backhoe To Dig Large Hole, Sheriff Says

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. -- A man who shot and bound his wife was using a backhoe tractor to presumably dig her grave, Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson said Monday.

Surry County deputies captured Christopher Scott Hiatt, 26, who was hiding in a wooded area off Dusty Lane near Greentown Road Monday morning, Atkinson said.
Atkinson said he had barricaded himself along a tree line less than a mile from the North Carolina/Virginia state line and was spotted with the help of a police helicopter that was scouring the area from above.

Atkinson said the incident started Sunday at about 10:40 p.m. when deputies responded to a breaking and entering call at the Hiatt Asphalt Company on Dusty Lane and found Hiatt's wife, Deonna Hiatt, 19, inside a Chevrolet Silverado truck, suffering from a gunshot wound to her head.

"(The deputies) looked in a vehicle that the suspect had left and found a female victim shot in the head. She was unresponsive," Atkinson said. Her feet had been bound by a leather jacket, but she was still alive, he said.

Christopher Hiatt in an old mugshot

Atkinson said Hiatt was taken to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center where she died late Monday morning.

Atkinson said that deputies saw Hiatt using a backhoe tractor to dig a hole, presumably to use as a grave for his wife. When Hiatt saw the deputies he ran away into the nearby woods. Murder charges are now pending against him.

Atkinson said deputies spotted Christopher Hiatt Monday morning hiding in the woods. Deputies fired at him, injuring him, before taking him into custody. Deputies said had Hiatt fired at them first. EMS treated him at the scene, then airlifted him to WFUBMC, where he was listed in critical but stable condition. Surry EMS Director John Shelton said he had been shot at least twice.

"It was kind of strange to see someone with a T-shirt on as cold as it was," said a neighbor who said he saw Hiatt Sunday evening.

Deputies didn't say what prompted the shooting, but did say the two had a history of domestic violence.

No other injuries were reported.

"All of the officers are okay. There are two deputies that were involved in the shooting along with a North Carolina state trooper," Atkinson said. "They are now part of the officer-involved shooting investigation that's going on. They seem to be okay. Everybody is just glad that nobody was hurt any worse than they were."

Atkinson said the SBI had been called in to assist in the investigation, as is the general procedure when law enforcement officers are involved in a shooting.

January Is National Stalking Awareness Month

Do you feel like you are being watched? Do you get strange phone calls at home or at work? Do you receive unsolicited mail from someone who "admires" you? You may be being stalked. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, and stalking can happen to anyone, not just Hollywood stars.

Stalkers are often quite hard to stop, and they may hurt or even escalate to murdering their victims. If you think you have a stalker, please be aware of the dangers, they can take many forms and that's why it's sometimes difficult for authorities to investigate.

Stalking may look like something innocent in the beginning, someone sends you a nice greeting card or email, someone makes a surprise visit to your workplace or home. Escalation into assault and even murder is a very real possiblity, and every precaution should be taken to stay safe.

Stalkers are very tricky and use a range of devices such as hidden cameras and video cameras, computers, and GPS devices to keep track of their victim. They are known to travel into different jurisdictions making it harder for authorities to apprehend. All forms of stalking can be unpredictable and should be considered dangerous.

1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in our country. 76% of all women killed by a spouse or boyfriend were stalked before they were killed. These statistics are preventable with education and cooperation at every level of the legal system.

Get involved at your community level to bring awareness to this growing epidemic that knows no economic, ethnic, or social boundaries.

If you think you are being stalked, report it to authorities, or call 1-800-FYI-CALL.

Visit the National Center for Victims of Crime website for more information and what you can do to help someone who may be stalked.





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