SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A crime that affects many more than it should, and often goes unnoticed until it's too late. Domestic abuse is rarely witnessed, but it happens more than you might think.
There are countless cases where people are abused, and it goes unpunished. A West Valley woman was strangled by her ex-husband in broad daylight. A South Jordan man living with his mother was beaten to death by his nephews in a dispute of family finances.
ABC 4 Crimetracker shows just in the Salt Lake Valley in one week, there were 68 reported cases of crimes inside the home.
But the weird part about these cases, is that status does not matter. Crimetracker shows just as many domestic disputes happen in high-income neighborhoods of Holladay as in the low-income neighborhoods of Taylorsville.
"We know that there are much larger numbers because so much of it goes unreported," said domestic violence counselor Melinda Petingill.
Petingill says the signs of domestic abuse can be subtle. All the more reason family, friends, and neighbors have to sound the alarm when they see signs a crime is being committed behind closed doors.
Petingill says some of the most obvious signs is isolation, withdrawal, and no access to basic resources.
If you do think you might be witnessing domestic abuse, police say witnesses must act quickly.
Former Salt Lake County Sheriff's Detective Frank Zeibert says when in doubt, call out. A nosy neighbor may be the only defense against the hidden crimes happening everyday in Utah.
Experts say often, domestic abuse is not reported because victims fear loss of financial support, or blame themselves for the problem.
