Tag: sexual assault awareness month

“Law enforcement efforts alone will not sufficiently address the symptoms of crime. We are faced with a public health crisis, and it will require all of us, working together to overcome it.

This is a public health crisis and as a City, we will and must address the crisis through law enforcement, public health practitioners and community partners working together.

NO ONE CAN ESCAPE ACCOUNTABLILITY.

With the collaboration of all stakeholders, including business owners, faith-based leaders, and organizations that work with those experiencing family violence and mental illness, I am confident that we will reduce violence and emerge as One Resilient City-One Unified City-One Safe Houston.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner (February 2, 2022)

Harris County Domestic Violence Partners are Working Together

Harris County has experienced an increase in the severity of violence in domestic violence cases and a spike in domestic violence murders over the last few years. The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges with deep impacts to safety and wellness to Harris County residents, especially those impacted by domestic violence. “I am grateful to ALL the community partners, and law enforcement agencies, for working together with the Houston Police Department’s Major Assaults & Family Violence Division, Family Violence Unit allowing us to continue to do everything we can to make sure Houstonians are safe. I want to thank the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) the Harris County District Attorney’s Office- Domestic Violence Division (HCDA-DVD) and Aid to Victims of Abuse (AVDA) to name a few, who have worked tirelessly during this crisis.” Lt. Kira Webster, Major Assaults and Family Violence Division, Family Violence Unit.

HCDVCC began hosting Family Violence Investigators Alliance Meeting in 2013. The Investigators Alliance was a recommendation that came out of the Community Safety Assessment of Law Enforcement Services in Harris County that HCDVCC conducted in 2011-2012. This allowed Family Violence Investigators from across the County to meet on a quarterly basis with each other and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. As a result of the relationships formed at the Alliance and to provide a coordinated community response to domestic violence during the pandemic, leadership from HCDVCC, HCDA-DVD and the Family Violence Units from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston and Pasadena Police Departments began weekly ZOOM meetings. The weekly meetings allowed for real time conversations related to the isolating parents and children in their homes, while separating potential victims from the network of friends, neighbors, teachers, and other individuals capable of reporting the signs of abuse and helping those at risk escape a dangerous environment. Our conversations confirmed with crime analysis that the pandemic isolating impacts increased the risk and severity of the injury for domestic violence victims. In the early days of the pandemic, the meetings produced a poster campaign to outreach in areas of town with a high rate of domestic violence. These posters were placed in apartment complexes, grocery, and convenience stores in those areas with information on how to get help. These weekly meetings continue today and not only have been beneficial in discussing cases, trends and gaps but have become almost a support group for those who attend.

Harris County is working on prevention of violence and access to essential services, such as justice and policing, social services, helplines and coordination of these services, to provide support to those who experience and witness violence.

Domestic violence is one of the most common crimes to which law enforcement respond; yet it is often misunderstood. By understanding what domestic violence is, what best practices are when responding, and what resources exist to support their work, law enforcement can build the skills, capacity, and comfort to address these crimes and those involved with expertise and care.

One of the priorities, recently identified at the weekly meetings, was the need for updated and on-going training for investigators. On May 25th, HCDVCC partnered with AVDA to provide an 8-hour Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Course #3901 in person training for investigators from HPD, HCSO, PPD HCDA and several Constable’s Offices on Domestic Violence. The topics covered the dynamics of intimate partner violence with an emphasis on common victim and perpetrator experiences and behaviors; sexual assault, stalking, animal abuse, and strangulation in the context of intimate partner violence; protective order enforcement and violations protocols; immigration law and the impact of traumatic events and complexities of the manifestation of trauma. Overall, the investigators provided positive feedback regarding the training with one investigator stating, “Training was excellent in explaining multiple versions of domestic violence and how it related to the entire community-very informative in all areas.”

We are grateful that we can continue to have successful collaborations that provide a coordinated community response to address the ongoing crisis of domestic violence in Harris County.

“On a journey to figure out what I am called to do with the story that has become my family’s story. One thing I know is that I must play my part to bring change.”

Founder of Project Beloved – Tracy Matheson – Molly Jane’s Momma.

Tracy Matheson founded Project Beloved in what she often refers to the aftermath of what she calls “a parent’s worst nightmare.” On April 10, 2017, in Fort Worth, Texas; Molly Matheson at 22 years old had not reported for work concerned Tracy went to Molly’s apartment to discover Molly had been raped, strangled and murdered. Less than two weeks later, in Plano, Texas, Megan Getrum who had been hiking at the Nature Preserve body was discovered deceased in Lake Ray Hubbard. Kimbro has a history of sexual violence and strangulation with charges pending from 2014; he was indicted on one charge of aggravated sexual assault in 2017 related to that case. Authorities charged Kimbro with capital murder for killing Molly.

Serial Killer/Rapist Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole – Guilty; Guilty; Guilty; Guilty; Guilty; Guilty.

Update: On March 18, 2022: Reginald Kimbro pleaded guilty to the 2017 killings of Molly Matheson of Fort Worth and Megan Getrum of Plano as well as three sexual assaults in Collin County from 2012 to 2014 and an aggravated sexual assault in Cameron County. All four victims described being drugged, strangled and raped. All four women were prepared to testify against Kimbro at trial.

Kimbro, 28, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in connection with the rape and murder of Molly Jane Matheson. Molly and Reginald dated in college but not been in a relationship for years. Kimbro was also sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the rape and murder of 36-year-old Megan Getrum — she was a stranger to him. Kimbro was sentenced to 20 years in the Plano case, life in the South Padre case, 20 years in the Allen case and 20 years in the McKinney case.

Molly Jane’s Law creates statewide database to track repeat sex offenders in Texas.
In 2019, David and Tracy Matheson pushed to get Molly Jane’s Law passed in the Texas Legislature. It requires law enforcement to input suspect information into a national database.

May 29, 2019, Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 3106, and it became known as Molly Jane’s Law in the state of Texas, effective September 1, 2019. Molly Jane’s Law allows law enforcement agencies in Texas to communicate with one another through the use of ViCAP, which is administered by the FBI.