Days after new data ranked South Carolina number eight in the nation for women killed by men, Florence authorities investigate the death of a woman who they believe was shot to death by her live-in boyfriend.
Laura B. Creel, 48, was found Monday slain in the trunk of her car parked at the home she shared with her boyfriend Roger Bruce who is charged in connection with her death.
Creel and the suspect had been living together for years, Florence Police Lt. James Rodgers said.
About 95 percent of the women slain knew their attacker, according to data released this month by the Violence Policy Center. Experts said 66 percent of those women were either married, previously married, living with or dating their attackers.
There is no reported history of domestic violence between the victim and the suspect, Rodgers said.
Slain women who were in relationships with their attackers may have suffered in silence for a long time before the situation became deadly, said Ellen Hamilton, director of the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault.
“Men and women want to be together. Women want men in their lives and they are willing to sacrifice a great deal to have men in their lives,” Hamilton said in an interview this month. “They want to try again and work on their relationships.”
About one third of female homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner, according to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Last year, the Pee Dee Coalition assisted 1,159 victims of domestic violence and sheltered 182 women and children for more than 5,000 nights.
Pee Dee Coalition officials said these numbers indicate domestic violence is a serious issue in area.
Jay Tyner, president of the Maple Park Neighborhood association said he knew Creel for years and is sadden by her death.
“I knew that girl for 37 years, I was raised up with her family,” Tyner said.
Creel’s body was found at her King Avenue home, just outside of the Maple Park neighborhood, he said.
Tyner said Maple Park is often thought negatively because of the murder of Geraldine “Jerry” Scott more than two years ago.
The neighborhood is trying to move past the tragedy of Scott’s death, but every time something happens in Maple Park the media seems to remind residents of her death, he said.
“We’re not trying to forget about Ms. Scott’s death, but ... it’s like opening wounds,” Tyner said. “If you keep (talking about) the negative then the positive can’t come through.”
The association works closely with local law enforcement to keep the neighborhood safe, he said.
The crime rate has gone down, but incidents still happen, Tyner said.
“This is the type of murder we couldn’t control. It’s not like it was a drug house ... we can’t control everybody,” he said. “We are trying to promote togetherness.”
For more information about Domestic Violence call the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault at (843) 669-4694 or the coalition crisis hotline at 1-800-273-1820.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement