Trusting a victim's instincts could be the difference between life and death. Dorothy Giunta-Cotter knew her husband was dangerous. She told authorities he repeatedly threatened to kill her if she ever left him. She did everything right - fled with her child, sought help from a crisis center, filed a restraining order, and reported violations. Yet despite all these precautions, Dorothy's worst fears came true when her estranged husband William fatally shot her in her Massachusetts home in 2002, with their young daughter hiding under the bed as tragedy unfolded.

Dorothy's heartbreaking story reveals a critical gap in our response to domestic violence cases. While individual agencies each performed their designated roles, the lack of true collaboration between domestic violence organizations, law enforcement, and the judicial system created fatal vulnerabilities. A judge's decision to release William on just $500 bail, without fully understanding the severity of his threats, set in motion the tragic events that followed just five days later.

From this devastating loss emerged meaningful change. Kelly Dunne of the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center partnered with domestic violence expert Jacqueline Campbell to develop a coordinated community response that's saving lives today. The Greater Newburyport High Risk Response Team established in 2005 brings together advocates, hospital liaisons, and police departments to assess risk factors using Campbell's Danger Assessment tool. This episode breaks down this vital 20-question assessment that helps identify potentially lethal situations before tragedy strikes.

Whether you're personally facing abuse, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand the real-world challenges in protecting domestic violence victims, this episode provides crucial insights into recognizing danger signs and navigating safety systems. Remember that regardless of any assessment score, your instincts matter most. If you feel unsafe or threatened, reach out immediately to trusted resources like your local domestic violence shelter, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Sources:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/07/22/a-raised-hand

https://feminist.org/news/911-tape-reveals-final-moments-of-domestic-violence-victims-life/

https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/07/16/how-massachusetts-is-trying-to-prevent-domestic-homicides/

https://www.postandcourier.com/app/till-death/assets/d4-pdf.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7878014/

1 in 3 is intended for mature audiences. Episodes contain explicit content and may be triggering to some.

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If you are in the United States and need help right now, call the national domestic violence hotline at 800-799-7233 or text the word “start” to 88788.

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Cover art by Laura Swift Dahlke
Music by Tim Crowe