The TCN Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Center held its annual Domestic Violence Awareness Ceremony on Friday morning in Bellefontaine.
Program Director Debbie Brownlee welcomed attendees, followed by proclamations from Bellefontaine Mayor Dave Crissman and Logan County Commissioner Michael Yoder recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
View the proclamation HERE.
The event included a moment of silence to honor victims and survivors.
Certificates of Excellence were presented by Gabrielle Groves to Deputy Mike Brugler, Deputy Todd Dixon, Bailiff Misty Davis, and Bailiff Robin Bailey for their continued support of survivors and the center’s mission.
The Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by Regina Pursley, went to Solomon’s Garage in West Liberty for its ongoing partnership and contributions to the center.
The Liz Parker Community Hero Award, presented by Brownlee, was awarded to Nathan Yohey, Logan County Assistant Prosecutor, for his dedication to advocating for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Yohey talks about his work with domestic violence cases:
Brownlee talks about Yohey and his work:
Brownlee emphasized the importance of community education and awareness, stating, “We believe domestic violence is a complicated social and personal issue where education is necessary to deter further harm or injury to victims. We are dedicated to helping victims from all walks of life through advocacy, protective sheltering, education, and empowerment, while fostering societal change.”
In Logan County, Soteria House—a secure, undisclosed shelter operated by TCN—provides safe, temporary housing for survivors and their children from any location. The facility operates 24/7, offering protection, crisis response, and support services at no cost.
TCN also provides New Directions Legal Advocacy, which connects survivors with attorneys specializing in domestic violence and sexual assault cases, and mental health counseling through certified trauma professionals. Counseling costs are based on a sliding fee scale, insurance, or MHDS Board coverage.
Through violence prevention programs, TCN provides education, training, and outreach to schools and community organizations, aiming to empower individuals and create a community rooted in safety and respect.
Brownlee gave a handout to all attendees with the following information:
Ohio saw a troubling rise in domestic violence fatalities over the past year, according to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network’s (ODVN) 10th Annual Fatality Report, covering July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
The report documents 157 fatalities across 108 cases, including 95 deceased victims and 62 deceased perpetrators. Of those who lost their lives, 75 were female and 82 were male—marking the first time in recent years that male fatalities exceeded female fatalities.
Domestic violence claimed lives in 36 Ohio counties. Eighteen counties recorded one fatal incident, sixteen reported between two and nine, one county saw between ten and nineteen, and another recorded more than twenty fatal cases.
A decade-long trendline shows the issue’s growing severity: fatalities have fluctuated over the past ten years, with Ohio recording 81 deaths in 2016 and now reaching 157 in 2025, one of the highest totals in that period.
When examining victims and perpetrators by race, White individuals accounted for 118 deaths, while Black individuals accounted for 36. Three deaths involved Asian, multiple races, or unknown backgrounds.
The data also highlights the complex nature of these tragedies. Of the total fatalities, 61 were identified as primary victims, 13 as secondary victims, and 83 as perpetrators who died—some by suicide following the incident.
Despite the devastating statistics, ODVN continues to provide critical support statewide. Over the past year, the organization served 127,006 survivors, answered 123,055 crisis calls and texts, and sheltered 10,834 survivors, including 4,483 children.
ODVN officials emphasized their ongoing efforts to prevent future tragedies and called on communities to raise awareness, promote early intervention, and strengthen local support systems.
