ANALYSIS OF FACTS HELPS REDUCE HARM

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REVIEW BOARDS

NEW BRAINTREE, MA December 3, 2011  New Braintree Police Officer Michael Sefton was recently in Augusta, Maine providing testimony about the results of the psychological autopsy conducted by Officer Sefton, Brian Gagan of Scottsdale, AZ, and Ron Allanach, Ed.D. of New Westminster, BC, Canada and Chief Joseph Laughlin of Portland, ME.  Officer Sefton, who holds a doctorate in psychology provides education and forensic consultation on domestic violence including domestic violence homicide and assessment of risk. 

PUBLIC INFORMATION

The testimony provided details about a hideous case of family violence that ended with the homicide of 4 members of the same family and was culminated by an attempt to burn the bodies after the murders.  Their research was conducted over a 3 month period following the homicide deaths of Amy Lake and her children.  Most researchers agree it is nearly impossible to predict when DVH will occur.  However, the psychological autopsy provides many salient red flags that offer clues to the impending emotional conflagration. It is not uncommon that red flags are often present early in the relationship.  These include obsessional jealousy, threats, sexual aggression, unwillingness to integrate into extended family, any use of a weapon, and others.  In the course of their research Sefton and Gagan interviewed Dale Preston who was convicted of DVH in 1982 and served 18 years in Maine State Prison.  When asked what may have stopped him from killing his wife, Mr. Preston indicate "there was nothing that could have stopped me..."  In these cases a greater awareness of risk or dangerousness is essential.  In some cases the containment of risk requires direct contact with an abusive spouse including GPS monitoring, house arrest, or no bail imprisonment.

The case in Maine occurred in June 2011 exactly 1 year to the day after the victim obtained a protection from abuse order from her husband.  The murders occurred 2 weeks before the divorce was to be finalized and were likely triggered by the abuser's anger over not being permitted to attend his son's 8th grade graduation ceremony.  The Bangor Daily News presented details of the recent psychological autopsy presented recently in Augusta, Maine.  Over 30 states across America have formal homicide review boards. 

Officer Sefton writes a blog about DVH at enddvh.blogspot.com