Domestic violence fatalities in Summit County rose from two cases in 2024 to eight in 2025 and demand is increasing for the resources provided by local support agencies, according to representatives from Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center.
The report provides an overview of domestic violence-related fatalities — Hope and Healing also experienced a 15 percent increase in clients served between 2024 and 2025 and a 23 percent increase in hospital-based advocacy calls following violent incidents.
That included more than 100 additional domestic violence-related hospital calls. In the first quarter of 2026, the agency has already seen a 25 percent increase in direct services compared with the same period last year, said Teresa Stafford-Wright, CEO of Hope and Healing.
The emergency shelter also provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, advocacy and housing assistance for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Summit and Medina counties.
In response to a state requirement to review domestic violence fatalities, the Summit County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee was revived in 2024 after being inactive for about 15 years. It meets monthly and is examining the eight cases from 2025 that occurred across Akron and its surrounding communities. Four of those cases ended with the offender also dying by suicide after killing the victim.
“We’re seeing that the individuals are not only causing harm to their partners, but they’re taking their own lives,” said Stafford-Wright, “In our field, we see that as the ultimate act of power and control because there’s no accountability for the life that they took.”
The fatality review committee includes law enforcement, prosecutors and victim service agencies.
What are the high-risk patterns in fatal cases of domestic violence?
Stafford-Wright said several patterns have repeatedly appeared in the committee’s review of recent deaths. Those factors include prior domestic violence history, escalation during separation, strangulation, firearm access and sexual assault.
“One of the most dangerous times for a victim is when they make the decision to exit the relationship,” she said.
She said strangulation is a particularly strong predictor of future lethality, and firearm access significantly increases risk.
In addition, Stafford-Wright said, many perpetrators had prior histories of abuse, though not all cases showed clear warning signs.
Why do victims stay, and what are the barriers to them leaving?
Survivors often remain in abusive relationships due to isolation, financial dependence and threats against children, pets or family members.
“Sometimes this is the person that’s taking care of them,” Stafford-Wright said. “They’re disconnected from having a job, from access to money.”
Many survivors plan their exits carefully, often waiting for moments of reduced risk, such as when an abuser is away from home, she said.
Prosecutors describe volatile and complex cases
Domestic violence cases are among the most challenging to prosecute because victim participation can change throughout the legal process, said Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich.
“These situations are so volatile,” Kolkovich said. “We’ve seen some cases where victims are cooperative through the process and then halfway through stop responding to our calls.”
Because victim cooperation varies widely, prosecutors rely heavily on physical and corroborating evidence, including 911 calls, photographs, medical records and witness statements.
What are the cycles of violence, escalation and reconciliation?
Kolkovich described a recurring pattern prosecutors see in domestic violence cases: cycles of abuse followed by reconciliation before violence reoccurs.
“There’s a violent incident in the relationship, then there’s the apology, the promise of making it better, and then they’re back together,” he said. “And then it leads to another domestic violence incident.”
While some cases show prior domestic violence history, he said others do not — something he called particularly difficult in fatal cases.
“It can be really frustrating as a prosecutor to see a homicide arise out of a domestic incident where there was no history between those two people,” he said.
How do cases move through the criminal justice system?
When cases are prosecutable, Kolkovich said prosecutors meet with victims and prepare for trial while also assessing sentencing options.
“We’re always looking at what might happen with those cases,” he said. “Is this a case where prison is appropriate? Is this a case where probation may be appropriate?”
The office also uses specialized domestic violence dockets in some cases and works closely with victim advocates assigned to each case.
Protection orders and enforcement challenges
When a person related to a domestic violence case is indicted, prosecutors typically request a no-contact order as a condition of bond.
“If they do contact the victim, the judge can violate those terms and order them back into custody,” Kolkovich said.
Victims can pursue civil protection orders even without a criminal case, and those orderswhich can last up to five years after a court hearing.
But enforcement is inconsistent.
“Sometimes it’s very effective in keeping the defendant from contacting the victim,” Kolkovich said. “But we’ve also listened to jail phone calls where defendants are still contacting victims despite no-contact orders.”
Firearms and high-risk gaps
Firearms are a major factor in domestic violence fatalities, particularly in cases without prior criminal history, Kolkovich said.
“In a lot of these cases, there was no prior criminal history,” he said. “So there was nothing preventing that person from owning or having a firearm.”
He noted that while federal law restricts firearm access for some domestic violence convictions, gaps remain for certain misdemeanor-level offenses — and many fatal cases involve no prior convictions at all.
System response and prevention efforts
Both advocates and prosecutors emphasized the importance of early intervention.
Kolkovich urged individuals who feel unsafe in relationships to seek help before violence escalates, pointing to organizations like Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center and the Victim Assistance Program.
“They are wonderful programs able to help people navigate those early signs of violence,” he said.
Hope and Healing’s hotline connects callers with trauma-trained specialists who help assess immediate safety needs and develop exit plans, including temporary shelter placement and coordination with legal and housing services.
Community role and accountability in domestic violence situations
Prevention also depends on broader community awareness and accountability.
Kolkovich said residents should not ignore warning signs of abuse.
“If you see something that looks like someone might be in an unsafe relationship, be there for that person,” he said.
Stafford-Wright added that domestic violence is fundamentally about power and control and that prevention requires education, early support and stronger systems of accountability.
“We need to support survivors early in the situation, not at the end of it,” she said.
Looking for supportive factors to put in place
As the committee continues reviewing cases, Stafford-Wright said the goal is to identify patterns and determine what interventions could help prevent future domestic violence homicides.
“We want to see if there’s a pattern there, identify trends and hopefully put supportive factors in place to mitigate those homicides in the future,” she said.
The rise in fatalities is not unique to Summit County. “This is something that we’re seeing as a trend across the state of Ohio and across the country,” Stafford-Wright said. “We need to pay attention.”
What were the report’s key findings and recommendations?
Strengthen parole officer training
One case highlighted the need for additional training for state parole officers on domestic violence dynamics. The offender reengaged in domestic violence immediately after release from incarceration for a prior domestic violence offense, resulting in the victim’s death.
Improve primary aggressor identification in same-sex cases
Expanded training opportunities can strengthen criminal justice professionals’ ability to identify the primary aggressor in same-sex domestic violence cases.
Increase awareness of survivor services
Only one homicide victim was documented as accessing survivor services prior to being killed, underscoring the need for broader community education and outreach.
Adopt high-risk assessment and response models
Summit County, the report said, should explore implementing the Danger Assessment for Law Enforcement and High-Risk Domestic Violence Teams to identify and intervene with offenders at elevated risk of domestic violence-related homicide. Offenders in the reviewed cases had violent histories prior to committing homicide.
