By Kayla Hallac, Editor-In-Chief
Check on your friends and the relationships they are in. Are your friends OK? Are they being treated well? Could they be a victim of domestic abuse?
Don’t let your friend be a victim.
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, equating to nearly 10 million domestic violence cases in a single year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
A recent event put a spotlight on domestic abuse in 2021. Gabby Petito departed with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, on a cross-country trip in June. They were documenting the trip on Instagram with fun photos portraying an image of happiness and love.
All contact ominously stopped in August. No more Instagram posts of Petito frolicking in the canyons or picnicking with Laundrie on river rocks. No more texts to family or friends.
Laundrie drove all the way home from their travels to Florida without Petito. After Petito was reported missing, her boyfriend disappeared.
Petito was found dead in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, and on Oct. 12, the cause of death from the autopsy was released: manual strangulation.
The mystery became more ominous on Oct. 21, when Laundrie’s remains were found in Florida. Assumptions were made. Laundrie has been implied to be an abuser who went on to murder his girlfriend before taking his own life.
If Petito had the opportunity to look back in hindsight on their relationship, maybe she could see the signs of violence. Instead, she was under a spell believing Laundrie would never put her in danger. He did.
I highly encourage you to find
@gabspetito and @bizarre_design_ on Instagram. They look to be in love with each other during their adventures. This part of them that lives on through social media is a disguise. It’s horrific.
There are ways to help. Women need to support women. In any situation where a girl looks uncomfortable or is visibly in danger, speak up. Staying silent is endorsing the abuse.
Be sure to check on yourself and your relationships.
Are you OK? Are you being treated well? Could you be a victim of domestic abuse?
Don’t let yourself be a victim.
To report domestic abuse, contact Outer Banks Hotline at (252) 261-8164 or National Domestic Hotline at (737) 225-3150.
Senior Kayla Hallac can be reached at [email protected].
