Domestic violence homicides are rising in NC along with need for services, data shows

The number of people killed by their partners this year in North Carolina has already surpassed the total from 2022.

State data shows:

• 2023: 53*
• 2022: 47
• 2021: 67

Asterisk* indicates as of Thursday.

In addition, from 2019 to 2021, there were more than 138,300 reports of assaults committed by former intimate partners or family members, according to the Criminal Justice Analysis Center,

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in four men in the U.S. have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. In North Carolina, 35% of women and 30% of men experience domestic violence, data shows.

Experts say there has been a rise in domestic violence related homicides this year in our state.

In the last month, seven women have been killed in domestic violence homicides in our state by their husband or partner.

The uptick in domestic violence means more lives lost and more victims needing help with protective or restraining orders.

Omar Drabick was arrested this week and charged with murdering his wife, Hadeel Hikmat. Drabick is accused of tossing her body into Jordan Lake.

Firas Hikman, the sister of Hadeel Hikmat, spoke with WRAL News on Thursday.

“Hadeel also told me Omar was nice, but dangerous inside and insecure,” Firas Hikman said of her late sister.

Six other domestic violence homicides have since been reported since Hadeel Hikmat's.

North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence Policy Director Kathleen Lockwood said guns are the mostly common weapon, used in 80% of domestic homicides. So far this year, that is 109 homicides committed with guns.

“It’s hard to say exactly why domestic violence homicides increase in a community because every case is unique,” Lockwood said. “But, we do know where there is financial stress, community stress, turmoil in a family or when community bonds have not been as strong for a while, we do know the stress in our communities is contributing to the higher rates we are seeing.”

Lockwood said the coalition is concerned with the year-to-year increases.

The crimes are taking lives while also taxing resources, court systems, shelters and hotlines.

“In 2022, [more than] 1,400 victims of domestic were served in a single day in North Carolina,” Lockwood said. “That’s a 300% increase from same report in 2022.”

Lockwood said there has been in an increase in protective orders.

“We know court advocates in our state that accompany people to civil court to file and receive protective orders,” Lockwood said. “Their capacity is thin [and] their services are in high demand.”

Another example of the surge in help needed is seen through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline reported answering 446,320 calls, chats and texts – a historic high for the organization and a nearly 10% increase, approximately 40,000 more calls than the year before.

Domestic violence survivor Melody Gross hopes victims find courage to reach out without feeling shame.

“One, it is not your fault,” Gross said. “On the other side of leaving is freedom.

“There is beauty in that freedom.”

If someone you know needs help, visit the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s website for access to resources to combat domestic violence.