Eerie timing with Domestic Violence month around the corner

By COLLIN GALLANT on October 28, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Authorities in the region are dealing with what they say is a second case of intimate partner homicide in as many weeks, just as advocates and police plan to launch “Domestic Violence Awareness” month, later this week.

Police allege Timothy Ray Faulkner killed his live-in partner Corinne Schneider on Monday in their apartment near downtown. He appeared in court on Wednesday.

Alf Belyea, 72, of Suffield, went missing before the Thanksgiving Day weekend, and one week later his wife, Deborah Belyea, was charged with second-degree murder after his body was discovered in a barn near Piapot, Sask.

The two cases are not related but are similar in that an intimate partner is accused in the death of their spouse or romantic partner.

Locally, police haven’t recorded a case of domestic violence resulting in a death in the previous five years, but both police and advocates state violence is occurring within households at an increasing rate.

“The problem is quite significant, and obviously (these cases) are tragic,” said Natasha Carvalho, executive director of the Medicine Hat Women’s shelter.

She stressed she has no knowledge of the particular cases, and it can be difficult to know what occurs between couples, but also that violence is not the answer and help is available.

“What’s concerning is that we have been seeing people who we have never seen before,” she said. “I don’t want to blame everything on the pandemic, but we do know that it has amplified the problem.”

Her group reported a 15% increase in demand for its services since the COVID pandemic hit in early 2020. That translates to about 200 more individuals, including children, accessing the shelter each year in Medicine Hat for a total of 1,500 in each of the past two years.

It cites increased stress from employment and financial issues, like the cost of living, more time spent in the home, and at times homeschooling, as causes for relationship breakdowns.

The Medicine Hat police report a 29% increase in domestic violence calls over the past two years. Officials say substance abuse and alcohol can also aggravate situations.

“At a very high level, the statistics for domestic violence have increased throughout the pandemic, with is very concerning,” said Insp. Brent Secondiak. “We know undoubtedly that isolation and things like alcohol abuse are contributing factors.”

The women’s shelter plans to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month in November with an event Monday at city hall and throughout the city centre.

The MHPS had previously scheduled a press event on Thursday to begin its part of the campaign. Officials are expected to make further comment at that time.

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