Latest news with #SojournerFamilyPeaceCenter
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sade Robinson homicide; lasting legacy, from tragedy to advocacy
The Brief Prosecutors say 19-year-old Sade Robinson was found killed and mutilated after a first date in April 2024. The Sojourner Family Peace Center reports there have been nine domestic violence homicides in Milwaukee this year. Sade's Voice Foundation will donate to causes that align with their mission and offer scholarships for self-defense courses for young women. MILWAUKEE - Hope, anxiety, excitement and maybe some curiosity or fear of the unknown – all emotions of the dating culture. But there could also be concern about safety. Local perspective It's what Sade Robinson's loved ones live with daily. Prosecutors say the 19-year-old was found killed and mutilated after a first date in April 2024. Carmen Pitre is president and CEO of the Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee. The nonprofit provides domestic violence prevention and intervention services. "We should live in communities where you can go on a date without concern that this will happen to you or someone you love," said Pitre. "It was horrendous to have had what happened to her, where she was dismembered, and awful for the family and have to day-by-day wonder: where is she?" FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android FOX6 News: Is dating abuse more common than we think? Pitre: Any of us are eligible to be hurt in relationships. With Sade, she was hurt in the intimacy of a relationship or, while it may not have met the statutory definition for us, what matters is she was in a relationship soon to be or had been in communication in an intimate way with this person. By the numbers The Sojourner Family Peace Center reports there have been nine domestic violence homicides in Milwaukee this year. In 2024, there were at least 34 domestic violence homicides; Robinson was among the list of victims. Data shows 39 cases in 2023, 49 in 2022, 41 in 2021 and 51 in 2020. The numbers include violent crimes between several relationship types, like parent/child, spouses and romantic partners. "We have a high level, or lethal, violence in Milwaukee," Pitre added. "It's gone down in recent years, but we still have far too much levels of violence that means people being strangled, people being set on fire, houses being sat on fire, guns, knives being used in intimate relationships so we're concerned about that." What's next Sentiments shared by Robinson's mother, Sheena Scarbrough, prompted her to start the Sade's Voice Foundation. "For all of the other missing and murdered Black, indigenous people of color," said Scarbrough. Scarbrough said the nonprofit will donate to organizations and causes that align with their mission as well as host annual back-to-school drives and offer scholarships for self-defense courses for young women. "It is her voice, her legacy to honor and carry what she was about," Scarbrough said. "She was a light worker, and she has saved so many young women and individuals. My baby is a hero." So far, the foundation has raised over $39,000 with the help of community partners. A portion of those funds will go towards a permanent memorial at Warnimont Park, where one of Sade's body parts was first discovered. "It's going to be bright pink and there going to understand once this place was a beautiful place to be. This is going to be the home of a memorial for somebody that was so beautiful," said cousin Keke. A reminder to live and love freely while remaining vigilant. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "I hope that we're one small voice that everybody in the community will stand with each other and say people who are dating, who are young, who are entering relationships, deserve to be safe," said Pitre. What you can do The Sojourner Family Peace Center says when it comes to dating safety, make sure to Google search the person you are going out with, let people know where you are going and to trust your gut. If you or someone you know has questions, there are resources available. The Sojourner Family Peace Center has a confidential 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline. You can call (414) 933-2722. You can also text for help at (414) 877-8100. The Source The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Child trafficking: Milwaukee victim advocate shares what to look for
The Brief A Milwaukee man is accused of sexually assaulting two kids, trafficking one of them. A victim advocate described the accusations against him as "like a horror show." If you suspect trafficking, you should call 911. There are signs to watch for. MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man is accused of sexually assaulting two kids and trafficking one of them. An advocate for victims said the case is part of a bigger issue. In Court David Boyd, 64, was supposed to have a preliminary hearing on Tuesday morning, but he refused public defender represenation. A hearing later this month will determine how things move forward. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android In all, prosecutors charged Boyd with repeated sexual assault of a child (two counts), physical abuse of a child, trafficking of a child and false imprisonment. Court records show he's being jailed on $100,000 bond. Human trafficking What they're saying Carmen Pitre, president of Sojourner Family Peace Center, described the accusations against Boyd as "like a horror show." Boyd is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting two girls – as young as 5 and 8 years old – for years. Prosecutors said one of the victims was chained up in the basement, denied food and trafficked. Residence near 21st and Burleigh "Thinking of a child like that locked up in a basement with bread – it's not an unfamiliar scenario," said Pitre. Pitre said kids are some of the most vulnerable when it comes to human trafficking. According to court filings, one of the victims told investigators she was only able to eat on the occasions she was allowed to go to school. "I think that traffickers count on isolation and disconnection," said Pitre. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News One of the victims told investigators Boyd assaulted her "too many times to count" and that he threatened her with a knife. Neighbors told FOX6 News they had no idea. "This could be happening right around us. It is familiar to us that trafficking happens right among us," said Pitre. "People who hurt others are good at hiding it." By the numbers That's part of the reason human trafficking is so tough to track. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families said, in 2023, there were 339 allegations of child sex trafficking reported to local agencies across the state. Sojourner Family Peace Center What you can do If you suspect trafficking, you should call 911. The biggest way you can help is to look for – and report – red flags. Victim advocates said physical signs to watch are children who: Are overly tired Appear to be malnourished Have burn marks, bruising or cuts Behavioral red flags include: Unexplained absences from school Acting withdrawn Sharing scripted or inconsistent stories Appearing to have lost sense of time The Source Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, Wisconsin Circuit Court and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. FOX6 News also interviewed Sojourner Peace Center President Carmen Pitre.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Milwaukee fire, woman says ex-boyfriend tried to burn her
The Brief A Milwaukee woman said her ex-boyfriend tried to set her on fire on Saturday. Police said they arrested the suspect. The victim is concerned about her safety. Domestic violence advocates say cases are high right now. MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee woman said she's worried about her safety after her ex-boyfriend tried to set her on fire on Saturday, April 5. Police said they arrested the suspect on Tuesday. Meanwhile, advocates with Sojourner Family Peace Center said cases of lethal domestic violence are high right now. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What they're saying FOX6 News agreed not to use the victim's name or show her on camera. She said she was in bed when her ex-boyfriend lit her sheets on fire and ran away. She felt the heat on her feet instantly and ran out through black clouds of smoke. The victim told FOX6 that one of the hurtful things in this situation is that her ex-boyfriend left her with absolutely nothing. Charred clothes now lie beneath broken glass, debris and scorched wood. "We've had a continued high rate of lethal violence in the city of Milwaukee. That has not changed," said Sojourner's President and CEO Carmen Pitre. Pitre said domestic violence has consistently gotten worse since 2019. She counted roughly 34 Milwaukee deaths related to domestic violence in 2024. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "We've had this uninterrupted cycle of generational violence that gets normalized from generation to generation," she said. Pitre said there are sometimes warning signs in domestic violence cases. Other times, though, homicide or attempted homicide is the first instance of violence. What you can do If you or anyone you know is going through domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. The city of Milwaukee also lists a number of resources on its website. "What's my process of preparing for exiting if that's what my choice is? If I choose not to leave, well what can I do to take care of myself?" Pitre said. The Source Information in this report is from FOX6 News interviews, as well as the Milwaukee police and fire departments.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Milwaukee activist teen sex assault charges; facing decades in prison
The Brief 39-year-old Corey Kirkwood has been charged with sexually assaulting and trafficking a child. The Milwaukee man is accused of luring a 15-year-old girl to his home at Palmer and Chambers in October. He's being held on a $100,000 bond. MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee activist who might best be known for his involvement with a flag burning protest outside a GOP debate in 2015 is getting unwanted attention again. This time, it's much more serious. What we know 39-year-old Corey Kirkwood has been charged with sexually assaulting and trafficking a child. He is facing the following counts: Trafficking a child Two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age Two counts of child enticement Two counts of soliciting a child for prostitution Bail jumping (felony) The Milwaukee man is accused of luring a 15-year-old girl to his home at Palmer and Chambers in October. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News A criminal complaint explains that another teen asked the girl to join her at Kirkwood's home to smoke, but the situation quickly turned scary. Prosecutors say Kirkwood strapped the girl to a bed and forced her into sex, filming it. The victim told police he used that video to traffick her and sell her online for sex. What they're saying Carmen Pitre is the president and CEO of the Sojourner Family Peace Center and works with trafficking survivors. She says no community is immune and abusers prey on the vulnerable. "There are people who look for kids who are vulnerable in that way and they pull them into these very dangerous situations," Pitre said. "Once kids find themselves there, it is very hard to find a doorway out to freedom." The backstory Kirkwood first made headlines a decade ago after he admitted to stepping on a burning American flag. In the years that followed, he became an activist speaking out against violence. What's next Kirkwood faces decades in prison if convicted. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android He's being held on a $100,000 bond. The Source The information in this post was provided by online court records as well as the criminal complaint associated with this case.
