Help End Domestic Abuse

What:   HEDA 5K RunWalk to benefit victims of Domestic Abuse

When:  September 24th, 2011 – 10:30AM to 4PM

Where:  Birch Island Resort, N 8221 E Flowage Rd, Phillips, WI

Entry Fee:  $15 (or more) donation — our largest contributor will win a prize!

Free lunch for participants!

Registration has ended… hope to see you next year!

To soon to make plans? No problem! You can register the day of the event!

If you want to participate in the Charity 5K WalkRun to Help End Domestic Abuse
we will need you to sign a liability waiver:

2011 HEDA Price County 5k Walk PDF
Please review and sign this form and turn in on the day of the event.

Contact for more information:

info@help-end-domestic-abuse.org

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Former victim addresses issue during National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Former Phillips resident Sarah Engle spoke recently to students in the senior leadership class at Phillips High School (PHS). During her Feb. 9 presentation coordinated by Becky Steinbach, children and family advocate for Time-Out Family Abuse Shelter’s Price County outreach office, Engle shared her personal experience with dating violence and other forms of domestic abuse.

The victim of repeated emotional and verbal abuse by her former boyfriend culminating in extreme physical violence and weeks of hospitalization, Engle hopes telling her experiences will prevent others from suffering the same fate. As soon as she began to recover from the assault, she felt she needed to speak out.

“In one way, I am luckier than some other victims because my abuser will spend the rest of his life in prison for what he did to me and my mother,” she said. “I can talk about my situation and not be afraid that he could come after me and hurt me again.”

During the years she was going with her former boyfriend, Engle said, he had never been physically abusive until the day he attacked her then left thinking she was dead. However, he had repeatedly been emotionally and verbally abusive over and over again.

“He would talk for hours about how I had hurt him but would never give me any examples of what I had done,” Engle said. “When I asked him to tell me about specific situations, he would tell me I was too stupid to understand. He would break up with me, then a week or so later tell me he forgave me but insist that everything that happened was my fault.”

After they were back together, she said, her ex-boyfriend would be very loving for one-to-three months before the abuse would begin again. Like many but not all abusers, he had grown up in an abusive home, Engle said, but that does not excuse his behavior.

“I am still learning about domestic abuse situations and solutions,” she said. I understand  there is an average of six break ups in an abusive relationship, and that verbal and emotional abuse are quite common in these situations.”

She is somewhat surprised but very pleased that people are interested in her story, Engle said, and glad they want to hear what she has to say. Although she doubts that dating violence and other forms of domestic abuse can be stopped completely, she wishes that no one would have to endure her situation.

She has also spoken to Flambeau High School students and traveled to Madison three times to speak in favor of pending legislation requiring stricter penalties when guns are used in domestic violence or sexual assault situations. Engle will also be sharing her story at the Ladysmith Public Library on Wednesday, Feb. 24, beginning at 6 p.m. This event, sponsored by the Time-Out Family Abuse Shelter, is open to the public.

Engle’s presentation had quite an impact on PHS students, states Ellen Allington who teachers the senior leadership class. She noted the students had many positive comments and were impressed by the speaker’s willingness to talk about her experiences.

According to Steinbach, she recently learned that February has been proclaimed as National Teen Dating and Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. She said it is quite a coincidence that Engle has started to share her story with others during this time.

“Most people don’t realize that one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from someone they are dating,” she said. “Youth who experience physical violence in a dating relationship are more likely to use drugs and alcohol, attempt suicide, and carry patterns of abuse into future relationships.”

In 1994, as a U.S. Sen., Vice-President Joe Biden authored landmark legislation, the Violence Against Women Act. He recently made the following comment regarding Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: “After 15 years of working to end domestic violence, we have learned that teens are not immune from abuse in relationships. Teen dating violence is all too common and ends up leading to vicious and unhealthy cycles for years to come. Our responsibility – as parents, teachers, mentors, and community leaders – is to guide our young people towards respectful relationships free from harassment and abuse; teach them that it’s O.K. to walk away from a bad situation; and encourage them to speak out when they see a friend in trouble. In many communities, teens themselves are leading the way in organizing their schools and communities to stand against violence. I commend them.”

In a heavily armed courtroom on Oct. 7, 2009, James J. LaHoud was sentenced to life in prison plus 80 years by acting Price County Circuit Court Judge Patrick J. Madden. LaHoud received his sentence for committing the crimes of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide, Attempted 1st Degree Intentional Homicide and 1st Degree Sexual Assault.

Judge Madden followed District Att. Mark T. Fuhr’s recommendation and ordered that LaHoud receive a sentence of life imprisonment with no chance for release on extended supervision (formerly parole) for the murder of Charlotte Engle in her home on Sept. 10, 2008. Judge Madden further ordered LaHoud be sentenced to 40 years confinement for the attempted homicide of his former girlfriend Sarah Engle, and 40 years for the crime of first degree sexual assault. The 40-year sentences were ordered to be served consecutive to one another and consecutive to the sentence of life imprisonment.

“James J. LaHoud was sentenced today to prison for the rest of his life for the vicious and brutal crimes he committed. I am pleased with the sentence handed down by Judge Madden and hope this is some small solace to the Engle family,” explained Fuhr.

Victims were allowed to address LaHoud. Tom Engle, father of Sarah and ex-husband of Char expressed his emotions on what LaHoud did to his family and “hoped he would never be free to do to this to any other family.”

The most powerful statement came from Sarah. Addressing LaHoud, who was not allowed to look at her, she told LaHoud that the shooting left her with many physical challenges and trust issues, but most damaging was the emotional torture she has endured. She told him that he took her best friend and she will never forgive him for that. Surrounded by supporters Sarah was poignant and brave while reading her statement and by the end of the sentencing hearing she was feeling some relief the ordeal was over.

LaHoud had no apologies to his surviving victim, only clarification about how Char got into her room. He also said “It is not true that I felt no remorse, I tried to impose the death penalty on myself since Wisconsin does not have the death penalty.” Judge Madden did not mince words as he told LaHoud after that comment, “Well at least you have a shred of humanity in you.” Shred is the key word since LaHoud could have apologized to the surviving victim but chose not to.

Fuhr went on to praise the work of the Price County Sheriff’s Department, the State Patrol and the State Department of Criminal Investigation for the work they put into solving this crime and apprehending the defendant. Fuhr specifically recognized investigator Christopher Jarosinski of the Price County Sheriff’s Department and Special Agent John Christopherson from the State DCI for their efforts.