Domestic violence does happen here

On Oct. 17, the Daily Herald reported the murder of Nancy Bustos in her Glen Ellyn home. Police are searching for an ex-husband who shared a residence with the murder victim and who had previously been charged with domestic battery of Ms. Bustos.

The murder brings home a sharp focus on domestic violence in our community. Many may be wondering how such a terrible incident could take place in a town known for its quiet and desirable neighborhoods, but at Family Shelter Service, we have been serving victims for 35 years and know that domestic violence occurs in all environments.

Every year, we serve nearly 2,000 women and children from the towns and villages in DuPage County where we live and work.

We hope that the tragedy will open a public dialogue about this devastating issue. Domestic violence flourishes in situations of silence: it takes tremendous courage for our clients to seek help for violence they have experienced, and break the taboos they may feel about speaking up.

Many reach out to us through our confidential 24-hour hotline or by filing for an order of protection. However, we know that many more women and children remain silent for fear, and so we are vigilant. We speak out about domestic violence in schools, health care centers and businesses, so that victims in the community know where to find emergency shelter and counseling services; we give out our hotline number for those who need a lifeline.

The murder of a woman in the heart of our community is a call to action for us all, challenging us to raise our voices on behalf of women and children living with violence — we cannot afford to look away when we know that the repercussions of silence may be deadly.

Karen Hurley Kuchar

Executive Director,

Family Shelter Service

Wheaton