‘You just don't have to suffer alone'; Domestic violence resources support Mattoon
MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — People in Mattoon are grappling with two deadly domestic violence situations in less than three months.
On Friday, police found 60-year-old Lori Ames dead near Oak Ave. and 30th St. Her son, 31-year-old Douglas Reed admitted to fatally hitting Ames with a hammer. He has since been charged with first-degree murder.
Urbana PD to hold forum, share updates on shooting investigations
Back in November, the Coles County Coroner said 37-year-old Davontye Browder shot 34-year-old Keisha Seely before turning the gun on himself. It happened near Grant Ave. and North 34th St.
For some victims of domestic violence, it can be hard for them to realize how serious it is before it's too late.
'I don't think that people always understand how lethal the situation is,' said HOPE Executive Director Kelly Hardy.
HOPE of East Central Illinois offers housing, counseling and legal advocacy for victims.
Although the resources are available, Hardy said it takes immense bravery to reach out for help.
Charleston Police warns of Facebook Marketplace scams
'You may not know what resources exist, but by calling the hotline you'll be able to empower yourself with education,' she said.
A 2023 report from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence showed a 110% increase in domestic violence-related homicides in Illinois from the previous year.
In 2022, 45 incidents led to 57 domestic violence deaths. In 2023, 94 incidents led to 120 people dead.
Before it reaches that point, Hardy said support is just a call away.
'You just don't have to suffer alone,' Hardy said. 'The impact of having a trained advocate in domestic violence situations can really be the contributing factor of a victim seeing themselves on a path free from violence.'
HOPE's crisis hotline can be reached at 888-345-3990. The state's hotline is 877-863-6338.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
North Carolina trio steals $32K worth of lawnmowers from Eureka Dicky Bubb
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Two men and a woman from North Carolina have been charged for allegedly stealing six lawnmowers from a Dicky Bubb Farm and Home in Eureka, Missouri. According to court documents, Devon Reid, 27; Roberts Knotts, 36; and Angel Williams, 29, stole $34,244 worth of lawnmowers from Dicky Bubb, located at 100 Hilltop Village Center, on April 11. The store manager told police the zero turn riding lawnmowers had been stolen in the early hours of the morning after watching surveillance video of Reid and Knotts allegedly cutting the lawnmowers loose and taking them between 2:40 and 3:30 a.m. 8-year-old injured in Baden shooting; 1 man dead Court documents said they were accompanied by Williams earlier in the day around 5 p.m. at the same store to purchase multiple chainsaws and one zero-turn lawn mower. Surveillance video showed the three suspects verbally giving the clerk multiple credit card numbers to purchase the items; some of the cards were declined. The Eureka Police Department reports two credit cards were fraudulently used to purchase the items, totaling nearly $8,000. After the transaction, the three suspects were seen leaving the store in a Chevy Silverado pickup truck, which was the same vehicle used in the early hours of April 11 to steal the additional lawnmowers. A large U-Haul was also seen attached to the Chevy truck, which police said was rented in Fenton, Missouri. Police reviewed surveillance video from the U-Haul that confirmed it was Reid and Knotts seen at Dicky Bubb's the next morning. The Chevy and U-Haul were later tracked arriving in Gastonia, North Carolina, a few days later. The Gastonia Police Department contacted Williams at her home, where the same U-Haul trailer was found. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Police also discovered Reid was selling the stolen riding lawnmowers on his Facebook Marketplace profile at 'extreme discounts.' Police contacted a victim who purchased one of the stolen lawnmowers and said the transaction took place at William's home. Reid, Knotts, and Williams have all been charged with one count of stealing $25,000 or more and two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card. All three suspects are still at large. A warrant for all three of their arrests was issued on June 3 with a $500,000 cash-only bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Explosive detonation training in progress in Decatur
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Residents living near the ICAT Training Center in Decatur might have had an unusual start to their day on Monday. On Monday morning, the Macon County Emergency Management Agency announced that there was an 'explosive ordnance training' in progress on the south side of Decatur. Forsyth couple died from gunshot wounds, autopsy finds The training was taking place on rural property at the ICAT Training Center, according to the sheriff's office. The training center is located at 3120 S. Business Route 51 in Decatur. There is no threat to the public, according to the Macon County EMA. WCIA reached out to the EMA's office for more information but did not immediately receive a response back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Crime Stoppers seeking tips in attempted $3,200 theft from Champaign Meijer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign Police Department is asking for help through Crime Stoppers in finding the people who stole $800 worth of merchandise from Meijer, but tried to get away with four times more in value. Officials said the theft happened the night of May 28. At approximately 9:12 p.m., three people walked into Champaign's Meijer at 2401 North Prospect Avenue and loaded several totes with merchandise, which they then put into a cart. One of the subjects was wearing a black and yellow Meijer jacket, and they pushed the cart outside and met up with the others. Two teens hurt, one critically, in Champaign shooting Sunday night The total amount of merchandise they had was more than $3,200, but loss prevention staff confronted them and recovered 75% of what the trio tried to steal. Officials said they still got away with $800 worth of merchandise. The trio was recorded on camera as the theft happened. They were described as: A male of unknown race, 26-35 years old, approximately 5′ 3″ to 5′ 9″ tall with an average build. He was wearing a black and yellow Meijer jacket, a black cap, a surgical mask and khaki pants A Black male, 26-35 years old, approximately 5′ 3″ to 5′ 9″ tall with a slender build. He was wearing a back hoodie and blue jeans, and he had a gray and black beard and a mustache A Black female, 26-50 years old, approximately 5′ 3″ to 5′ 9″ tall with a slender build. She was wearing a black hoodie, gray sweatpants, sunglasses, and had short gray hair. Anyone who has information about this crime or the people responsible is asked to submit their knowledge to Champaign County Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted by calling 217-373-8477, visiting Crime Stoppers' website or using the P3 Tips app. All tips are 100% anonymous, even to law enforcement, and are eligible for a cash reward if the tip leads to an arrest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
