Silent march to highlight recent domestic violence crimes

Organized by the Wake County Domestic Violence Task Force, Wednesday's march is in response to the sixth domestic violence-related homicide in Wake County in 2012, an apparent murder-suicide in Holly Springs Dec. 3.

Domestic violence-related resources

"It's to help raise awareness so the community understands that this is everybody's issue," she said. "It is happening in our community, and this lets people know they can get help."

Amber Seymore, who was found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide less than two weeks ago, called 911 about her husband just 10 days before she was killed.

"My husband has a gun and a bad temper," she told the dispatcher. "He shoved me and got in my face and was yelling at me when I was holding the kids."

Officers said the couple's 2-year-old child was home when Robert Seymore fatally shot his wife and then himself.

In September, Kathleen Bertrand, 41, was shot and killed by her ex-husband, 42-year-old Christopher Bertrand, in Raleigh's Cameron Village shopping center. 

Earlier this year, police say Agata Flipska Vellotti, 43, was killed by her estranged husband, Mario Vellotti, outside a north Raleigh apartment complex after returning home from walking their 6-year-old son to school.

"Domestic violence happens all the time," Brewer said. "It's estimated than one in four women in their lifetime will be a victim, and we at InterAct estimate that hundreds of thousands of men and women in Wake County are impacted every year." 

In 2011, InterAct served more than 8,300 direct victims of domestic violence, Brewer said.

Brewer said victims looking for help should know that they have options. 

"Know that you are believed. Know that there are people out there that can help you," she said. 

According to the North Carolina Council for Woman, North Carolina ranks fourth in the nation in homicides committed by men against women.

Wednesday's march will begin at noon on the steps of the Wake County Courthouse.