Northwood Murder has Domestic Violence Past - KAALtv.com

Posted at: 08/07/2013 11:12 PM

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(ABC 6 NEWS) -- It's a story that's been told far too often in recent months: domestic violence ending in the loss of life.

On Monday, a North Iowa mother of two became our area's latest victim.

Police say 30-year-old Justina Smith was stabbed to death by her abusive boyfriend Tyrone Washington in Swensrud Park on Monday morning.

Court records show Smith actually took out a no contact order against Washington just last month.  

And while experts agree it's a good tool, and encourage all victims to seek help, they recognize restraining orders can often be powerless to avoid tragedy.

According to police reports, Smith was violently attacked by Washington just over a month ago.

A statement hand-written by Smith describes a horrifying scene in which Washington screamed at her, knocked her down, and choked her.

But another letter shows a different side of their relationship.

Smith recently asked to get the no contact order dropped, saying they were in love and that Washington was no threat to her or her family.

Experts said that kind of back-and-forth attitude is common for victims struggling to break out of abusive relationships.

"Victims know better than anyone else whether or not that protective order is going to work," said Mary Ingham, executive director of Crisis Intervention Service. "For some victims it's actually safer to be with their partner."

Ingham said, in some cases, reaching out for help can actually put a victim in more danger.

"When the abuser feels like they're losing power in the relationship, like their partner has left them, their violence escalates," Ingham said. "They're willing to take the next step to keep their victim in check, to keep that victim in the relationship."

And that's exactly what happened to another local woman when she tried to leave her husband earlier this year.  

Dodge Center native Manya Johnson was shot and dismembered in January.  

Johnson's husband had a history of violent crime and was sentenced to life in prison for his wife's death.

While many people focus on the victim's decision to stay in the relationship, experts said it's important to remember that the fault lies completely with the abuser.

"It comes down to an abuser made a choice to kill his partner even though a victim may have done all the right things to protect herself," Ingham said.

Funeral arrangements for Justina Smith are being handled by Colonial Chapels in Northwood.