GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — A failed murder/suicide attempt last week on the east side of Green Bay and a fatal shooting in Ashwaubenon has put the spotlight on domestic violence in the area.
Cheeia Lo is the executive director of Golden House in Green Bay and says there’s been a large increase in hotline calls and requests for help over the past two years.
“This year we’ve taken over 10,000 hotline calls and over 1,700 clients,” Lo told WTAQ. “That’s an increase from last year.”
In 2019 they took 5,385 hotline calls, and in 2020, they took 12,000. Lo anticipates they will see even more before the end of the year.
Lo says the pandemic’s impacts on mental health and an increase in working from home and social isolation have led to more domestic abuse, and among both men and women alike.
“We’ve actually seen an increase in male victims as well,” Lo explained. “Coming in not only for services, but for shelter.”
It’s something Lo doesn’t want the public to ignore.
“It’s happening. It’s happening here in Brown County,” Lo said. “This is not LA or New York City. This is Green Bay. This is Brown County.”
Last Thursday, one person was found dead and another badly injured in a shooting at a home on Green Bay’s east side. A 55-year-old man attempted to shoot and kill a 35-year-old woman with whom he was separated from. Earlier that day, two more people, Bryan Morales and Karissa Peronto, were found dead after a shooting in Ashwaubenon. Police. While police haven’t called that attack a murder-suicide, Morales did have a history of violence.
Both of those violents tragedies happened to come the same day that Golden House held their annual Show of Strength event in De Pere. Lo says the event was enormously successful, raising more money than their goal.
“Thursday evening was beautiful, but then to see that in our county…I was shocked,” said Lo. “But also angry, sad.”
Golden House not only provides a domestic violence shelter but also advocates and mental health experts for victims, free of charge.
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