Victim of Abuse Fears Former Husband’s Prison Release

In North Carolina Heather Thompson is truly the “picture girl” for spouse abuse. Her blackened and bloodied face is on many billboards and printed material. Her wounds and her words, say “get help” to those abused.

According to police reports and investigations, Thompson’s former husband 15 years ago tortured her with pliers, a broom handle and a belt for many hours. She now has permanent disabilities and constant pain. She can’t work, sit for any length of time, and has pain so severe she sometimes has trouble functioning. Now she goes to high schools to warn students and law enforcement officers about the issues involved in domestic violence. Thompson has been described as being one of the worst examples of suffering. Donna Stepp, the prosecuting attorney involved with her case, gives these details:

"In all the years I've defended or prosecuted cases like that, she probably suffered the worst and had the most horrific injuries for somebody who survived," Donna Stepp said. "I do remember the case just because of that and because of how far she came since that."

Now Thomas Howard Price Jr., the ex-husband, has been released from prison. Thompson worries about whether he will come and kill her and her daughters, as he once promised he would do. He served 4 ½ years after being convicted of the abuse of his wife. He refused to be interviewed, and his mother would give no information about where he intends to live. According to the conditions of his release, he is to wear a location-monitoring device for six months and ordered to have no contact with his ex-wife or his 17-year-old daughters. His attorney says Thompson has no reason to fear him anymore. Thompson, however, thinks differently and worries about when he will come and kill her. But is that fear justified in relationship to the experience of other women? A South Carolina attorney writes on his blog about domestic violence leading to murder. He says police officials maintain domestic violence is almost always precursor to murder. He relates 60% of marriages experience some sort of abuse, including verbal and emotional as well as physical abuse, but gives no resources for the statement. The exact statistics on how many women are abused, and later killed, aren’t available. An article written in 1995 maintains that anywhere between 2 to 4 million women are victims every year. The chances of a husband who has abused his wife later killing her is 75% within the first few months of a couple’s estrangement. Perhaps, given the statistics revealing that murder is more likely to occur during the first few months of estrangement from the abuser, Thompson won’t end up being killed by her ex-husband. In the meantime, she continues to fear potential violence, and says she has no money to move from her present home. Spousal abuse isn't just a problem in the United States. It is a worldwide problem. One of the worst murder cases occurred this year of a woman victim of abuse who was killed and beheaded by her husband. Aasiya Hassan’s torment at the hands of her husband, Muzzammil Hassan ended in a terrible death. Spousal abuse is written about in many countries including Japan, China, Ghana, India, Russia, Pakistan, Korea as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Canada, but other countries also document these problems. The problem becomes paramount when it leads to murder, which is why many nations are working towards educating people about this terrible problem.