​Since October 2013, Hope House has joined with other domestic violence programs around the state by implementing the Lantern Project. For our part in this statewide project, we added to the lamppost in front of Hope House a purple wreath. We will turn on the light for a week every time there is a death related to domestic violence in Wisconsin. We will post information online about the person(s) that was killed. If you drive by our building and see our lamppost on, please reflect on the deadly impact that domestic violence has on our communities.

​September 3rd, 2018 Quantrell Ross, Age 38, Milwaukee WI

Obituary
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Homicide Charge Filed Against Milwaukee Woman Who Stabbed Boyfriend
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A Milwaukee woman charged with homicide told police the dead man had been punching her, so she grabbed a butcher knife and stabbed him.  The incident happened September 3rd.  Officers were called to the apartment and, when they arrived, they say 33-year-old Danielle Latham was calm, even though she was sitting on the floor with blood on her hands and clothes.  Quantrell Ross was unresponsive and life-saving measures failed.  Latham is scheduled to return to Milwaukee County Circuit Court Friday.  If convicted, she would face up to 60 years in prison.

Since October 2013, Hope House has joined with other domestic violence programs around the state by implementing the Lantern Project. For our part in this statewide project, we added to the lamppost in front of Hope House a purple wreath. We will turn on the light for a week every time there is a death related to domestic violence in Wisconsin. We will post information online about the person(s) that was killed. If you drive by our building and see our lamppost on, please reflect on the deadly impact that domestic violence has on our communities. 

August 13th, 2018  Officer Involved Shooting-  Milwaukee, WI

A man who Milwaukee police say was armed with a gun when officers shot and killed him was not legally allowed to have a firearm, court records show.

The 48-year-old man drew a gun during a traffic stop on the city's near south side, Police Chief Alfonso Morales said Monday evening at a news conference shortly after the shooting.

The man was wanted on a warrant in a felony domestic abuse case and probation violations. He had fled from officers earlier in the day, Morales said.

The shooting involved uniformed officers, Morales said, meaning they likely were equipped with body cameras, but police officials have not said if the shooting was recorded on body camera footage or by a squad car dash camera.

The Police Department also has not said how many shots were fired and has not publicly identified the man who was killed or the two officers involved, other than to provide the officers' ages and years of service.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the department had declined to release further information surrounding the shooting.

The shooting is being investigated by the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, in accordance with state law that requires outside investigators to lead probes of fatal police shootings.

The man who was shot and killed was identified as Mario A. Hobson, a source told the Journal Sentinel.

His daughter told WISN-TV that Hobson had a history of suicidal thoughts and mental health problems. She could not be reached for further comment Tuesday.

It's unclear if Hobson sought mental health treatment based on court records available Tuesday. The records show Hobson's attorneys in his prior court cases did not raise his mental health or competency during those proceedings.

Marion Hobson was fatally shot by police in a traffic stop on Monday. Police said Hobson pulled a gun during the traffic stop.

A warrant was issued for Hobson's arrest on July 29 when he was charged with felony battery, according to online court records.

According to the criminal complaint, Hobson approached his ex-wife July 21 while she was walking with friends in the 2300 block of North King Drive. Hobson pulled up to her in his car and grabbed both of her arms. He punched her in the head twice and grabbed her by the neck, leaving scratch marks.

In June 2017, he was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct with a domestic violence modifier.

According to the complaint, Hobson and his then-wife got into an argument while driving. She ran from the vehicle and he chased her. Hobson's wife was asking for help from a car passing by when Hobson pulled up, pointed a gun at the car and said, "You (expletive) better keep going."

When Hobson's wife heard tires squeal and saw Hobson's car driving toward her, she pulled out a gun and fired two shots at the vehicle, the complaint says.

Hobson was convicted in 2005 of felony possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, making it illegal for him to have a gun.

August 18th, 2018  Jakari Wright - Age 21,  Milwaukee, WI
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Obituary
A 47-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged with reckless homicide in the fatal shooting of his son during an argument on Saturday.

Randell Wright told police he and Jakari Wright were arguing after Wright told his son he had to move out of their apartment in the 3700 block of West Oklahoma Avenue. Wright picked up his gun and then his son said, "Kill me, I want to die," Wright told police.

But instead, Wright said, his son tried to wrestle the gun away and it fired, striking his son in the left cheek.

Jakari Wright, 21, staggered around the apartment, bleeding profusely, then down the stairs before collapsing in the lobby of the apartment building, where others were trying to stop the bleeding when police arrived.

"I lost my son on some (expletive) that shouldn't have even went down," Wright told police.

Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Brian Peterson's autopsy concluded that Jakari Wright was shot from behind after his body had turned away from his father. Detectives concluded the evidence was inconsistent with Wright's version of the struggle and gunshot.

August 21st, 2018  Robert Thomas Jr. - Age 26,  Janesville, WI

Obituary
District attorneys say they won't file charges against Sarina Stone in the death of 26-year-old Robert Thomas Jr.

Prosecutors determined Stone did murder Thomas, but lacked enough evidence to prove she intended to kill him.

Investigations find Stone and Thomas's relationship was almost daily violent in nature. There are several incidents of violence from Thomas against Stone.

Prosecutors say there's enough evidence to support Stone was trying to defend herself when she stabbed Thomas early Wednesday.

Stone picked up Thomas and they drove to a parking lot in the 2700 block of West Wall Street.

Stone told police that Thomas struck her during an argument before she stabbed him.

She then drove Thomas to Mercyhealth where he later died.

He died from a single stab wound to the chest.

August 23rd, 2018  Attempted Homicide/Suicide,  Brookfield, WI
A 54-year-old Brookfield man who closed a garage door on his face died Thursday, the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office said, three days after the incident in which he is also suspected of bludgeoning his wife with a dumbbell.

Police are treating the investigation as an attempted homicide after responding to a domestic violence case Monday, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by City of Brookfield police in Waukesha County Circuit Court.

The couple's 22-year-old daughter, who was home from college, heard her mother, 52, screaming and called 911. The daughter had been in her room when she heard several thuds and the garage door close.

The mother was found bloodied and her teeth missing. Responding officers found the husband lying on the ground in the garage with trauma to his face.  A dumbbell was located nearby, which may have been used to batter the woman, according to the affidavit.

The husband was found with his head underneath the overhead garage door. The safety feature of the door had been disabled. A rope tied to the release for the door was also visible; It appeared the rope was used to release the door, the affidavit said.

The couple was taken to Froedtert Hospital, the affidavit said.

A search of the couple's home found three human teeth in the hallway, one tooth on the garage floor, a 5-pound dumbbell, a rope connected to a garage cord and computer equipment.

The couple filed for divorce in January, but suspended proceedings July 11 to try and reconcile, according to online court documents. Court records showed one previous incident of domestic violence in 2003.

Welcome to the September 2018 edition of Hope House's Community Education E-bulletin!​

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

We can all do #1Thing towards eradicating domestic violence.
The #1Thing that will end domestic violence is our collective power.

We're one month closer to Domestic Violence Awareness Month! The national theme this year is #1Thing. What's your #1Thing that will help prevent domestic violence? Hope House will be organizing several projects and displays in October. Look for our luminary display in our front yard, a donation drive on #PurpleThursday on October 18, community displays at libraries, campuses, courthouses, and community centers, and more. We'll have more information on our Events page as we finalize details. If you'd like a domestic violence prevention poster or presentation this October, please call us at 608-356-9123 or email us here. 

Are you a health care provider? October 10 is National Health Care About Domestic Violence Day. Learn more about how your hospital or clinic can get involved by visiting: ​www.futureswithoutviolence.org/health/hcadvday. 

Congrats to Sauk County Assistant District Attorney Rick Spoentgen!
Congrats to Sauk Co. ADA Rick Spoentgen for being appointed by Attorney General Brad Schimel as one of the 16 new members for the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Response Team! The SART evaluates the state’s response to sexual assault at the local, county, and state level, and makes recommendations and reforms to improve the system response to sexual assault. Learn more here.

Hope House Donation Needs
Monetary donations are most needed.  Individuals have the option of donating ​online.  Please note that a portion of your online donation will go towards PayPal fees.  Donations can be mailed to Hope House, P.O. Box 557, Baraboo, WI 53913. We also appreciate gas cards, gift cards (Walmart, Kwik Trip, Walgreens, Kohl’s), taxi vouchers from Baraboo Taxi, and used cell phones, iPods and iPads.  Please note that we are not accepting used stuffed animals/plush toys, used toys, clothes (except for new sweatshirts and sweatpants), shoes, used books, furniture, TVs, bar soap, hats, scarves or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash. Current needs include the following:

• Food: Granola Bars, Instant Oatmeal, Juice, Cereal, Produce, Milk, Eggs
• Cleaning Supplies: Floor Cleaner, 13-Gallon Garbage Bags
• Program Supplies: Pencil Sharpeners, Plastic Safety Scissors (Blunt Tip)
• Clothing: New Women's Underwear (Size 5-7), New Boy's Underwear (Size 4-10)
• Kitchen/Bathroom: 10-Gallon Totes, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Silverware (Forks), Diapers (Size 5 and 6), Kitchen Towels, Deodorant (Men), Full-Size Hair Conditioner

​Special Note about Travel-Size Items: We encourage those looking to donate travel-size items to donate them to the Backpack Project. The Backpack Project strives to provide Baraboo School District students who are financially challenged to enter the school doors on the first day ‘just like everyone else’ and to show these children the community supports and encourages them to learn and do their best. If interested in donating towards this project, please contact Becky Hovde at 608-963-8230 or Hivebiz65@gmail.com.

Domestic Violence

• Police department uses 'lip sync challenge' video to warn millions about domestic violence: “The content has shocked some on social media: A man chokes a woman; a child huddles alone in her bedroom; officers break down a door and come to the rescue. In response to anyone who's surprised at the violence, Craig has a simple message: ‘You know, guys, that's ... real. That's what we deal with. That's what the victims deal with, every day.’ Posting the video was an act of courage for the department”…Read more
• CDC: Half Of All Female Homicide Victims Are Killed By Intimate Partners: “But the new report drew on coroner's reports and death certificates, as well as crime data. It gives an even higher percentage — and provides a much more granular look at women's deaths. The CDC examined more than 10,000 homicides between 2003 and 2014. In female homicides in which the circumstances are known, the killer was a current or former intimate partner about half of the time, the report found...More than 98 percent of those homicidal partners were men”…Read more​
• New Zealand Will Provide Paid Leave To Domestic Violence Survivors: “New Zealand has passed a law that provides paid leave to survivors of domestic violence, making it one of the first countries to do so. Employers must grant 10 days of paid leave to survivors of domestic violence to give them time to cope and potentially escape the abusive situation. This is similar to, but separate from, leave for illness or bereavement”…Read more

Miscellaneous News

Online Training

• Attachment Vitamins: Interactive Course on Early Childhood Attachment, Stress, and Trauma: "The Attachment Vitamins online course is an interactive, self-paced e-learning course for those adults working or living with children aged zero to five…During the course's nine modules, participants will learn about early childhood social-emotional development; the impact of stress and trauma; the possible meanings of children’s behaviors; the influence of culture on families' socialization goals; and a number of strategies to promote secure attachment and safe socialization practices"...Learn more