Published: October 02, 2008 01:31 am            

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Program honors silent witnesses

LEWISTON — On July 26, 18-year-old Kari Gorman’s life was taken too soon.

A victim of a murder-suicide committed by her boyfriend, Shaun Wolf, at his Ransomville home, Kari became one of many victims of domestic violence who lose their lives each year.

On Wednesday, she became the 10th and youngest woman to be honored as part of the “Silent Witness” program, a project meant to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The program features standing wooden silhouettes, each marked with the name of a woman who has died as a result of domestic violence.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, Kari’s father, Jim Gorman, and brother, Jeff Hardy, placed the silhouette marked with Kari’s name among the others in the atrium at Niagara University’s academic complex.

The room was packed with Kari’s family members and friends, many of whom wiped away tears during the program.

“It was emotional, but (hopefully) it can make a difference,” said Kim Davidson, Kari’s mother.

Several Wilson cheerleaders, wearing their uniforms, attended to show support for Kari and her family. Kari, a 2008 graduate of Wilson High School, was on the cheerleading team.

Kari’s cheerleading coach, Amy Wiltse, remembered Kari as an outgoing girl who wore her emotions on her sleeve.

“You could tell if she was angry or happy,” Wiltse said. “If she smiled when I saw her, I knew it was going to be a good day.”

Kari’s sister-in-law, Jackie Hardy, spoke to the crowd about Kari and said she was surprised by the show of support the family has received since the tragedy.

Kari was honored at the school’s homecoming game, she said.

“It was amazing to see everyone wearing a blue ribbon in her honor,” Hardy said. “We never realized how many people she had touched.”

Mary Brennan-Taylor, vice president of programs at the YWCA of Niagara, said the idea behind the “Silent Witness” program is to raise awareness in the community.

She said when she sent invitations out to the event, she got an “instant reply” from an administrator at a local school.

“It said, ‘Could you send somebody? I think we have a couple of students at our school who are involved in domestic violence,’ ” she said. “That’s exactly what we want this type of function to trigger, is people reaching out for help.”

Sometimes, the signs of domestic violence may not be apparent.

“(Kari’s) was a controlling relationship, nothing I would have ever thought of as domestic violence, until after it happened,” Davidson said. “They were fighting all the time, bickering more you would say, but it was never violent, that we were aware of. She never said anything.”

Organizers passed out cards with phone numbers for domestic violence, rape and abuse hot lines.

Susan LaRose, the county’s domestic violence coordinator, said there are 300 domestic incident reports filed in the county each month.

“It can occur at any time, or any place,” she said. “These silhouettes are a compelling and visual way to touch people on a personal level.”

The silhouettes will remain in the academic complex at Niagara University throughout the month.

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.