A Safe Place’s Silent Witness Project is an exhibit showcased around the Nantucket community during Domestic Violence Awareness Month during the month of October.
This project is a visual representation of the Massachusetts women, men and children who have been murdered by acts of domestic violence within the year (January-August so far). Their stories are showcased on silhouettes placed around local island businesses as a reminder of how domestic violence affects our state of Massachusetts.
Below is a copy of each individual story featured on each of the silhouettes, alongside more information for each story. Please join us as we remember and honor each person lost.
While this topic is difficult to talk about, it is necessary that we do.
Thank you to the following local businesses and nonprofits for your support during Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
Dan’s Pharmacy, Espresso to Go, Fairwinds, Mitchell’s Book Corner, Nantucket Athenuem, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Nantucket Family Resource Center, Nantucket High School, Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals, Nantucket Police Department, Offshore Animal Hospital, Old South Diner, Pip & Anchor, and Wicked Island Bakery.
“Friends said she was loving, outgoing, and quick to laugh. Many posted that they were heartbroken over losing such a kind and loyal friend.”
-Josh Lanier, Springfield Daily Voice
“Worcester Police responded to the couple’s apartment on 6 Douglas St. just after 5 p.m. to find Garnier suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased.”
-Office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.
“Aanya was a miracle and brought a smile to everyone’s face and brightened up their lives,” her obituary reads. “She was her parent’s lucky charm since they had her in their lives in 1998 and was their pillar of support, strength and purpose. She was so full of love and laughter and happiness and compassion for others. Her love knew no bounds.”
-Marc Fortier, Carla Rojo & Asher Klein, 10 Boston
“She was a mental healthcare professional at Anodyne Medical Services on assignment for Vinfen Corporation, where she was dedicated to her work. Loren was a beautiful strong young lady, her amazing beautiful spirit always lit up the room. She was the life of the party, and loved to dance, sing and cook. But most of all, she loved her family, her Little Raskals, Darla and Spanky and her many friends.”
-Loren E. Marino Obituary
Family members say Carlos Brown doted over his yard at 524 Ash St. Evidence of that: the perennials along the sidewalk, situated with razor precision.
But the landscape apparently gave no hint to the tumult inside the house shared by Brown and his wife, Sheron Trowers. The couple, both around 60, could often be heard fighting, neighbor Carole Wright said. One time she felt compelled to call the police.
“She was in the driveway screaming, ‘Please, someone, call the police.’ So I called the police,” Wright remembered.
But that was the last time she intervened, after getting significant blowback from Brown.
“He was so mad at me that I just disassociated from them and never talked to them again,” Wright said. “I didn’t know it would come to this. It’s a horrible, awful, awful thing.”
-Jim Morelli, Boston 25 News
“Like all young people, River deserved to live life to its fullest. They deserved to let their creativity shine in this world, but they were brutally taken from their community and loved ones. In honoring River’s loving nature, we will continue to work and show up for young nonbinary and trans kids everywhere. They are not alone and we as a community need to show up to support them as often as we possibly can.”
-Tori Cooper, Human Rights Campaign Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative
“I know, yesterday, one of my colleagues shared a very personal story from her past about what she went through and it was news to everybody. You know, nobody knew. I know she was hoping to put her story out there and, you know, talk about what she went through with the hopes of helping others.”
-Robert Rizzuto, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson
“Kaydion Dawson couldn’t celebrate Mother’s Day with her daughter Giselle Johns this year because her husband Steven Johns killed them both and then himself on April 27th.”
-@DivestFromDust (Instagram)
“On September 7, 2021, the victim reported that Santana had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. Santana was arrested and arraigned that same day on 6 counts of aggravated rape of a child. At that arraignment in Malden District Court bail was set at $30,000 with conditions that he be placed on a GPS monitoring device, that he stay away from and have no contact with the victim and that he have no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18. The victim also had an active restraining order against the suspect. The trial date in this case was scheduled for July 29, 2024.”
-Middlesex District Attorney’s Office Press Release
“The family of Alianah Dickey had reason to celebrate on Friday evening as they arrived at the eighth-grader’s middle school for her graduation.
Concerns began to arise however when Alianah did not show up for the ceremony, and shortly after 6 p.m. her grandmother called Lowell Police to report that she found the 15-year-old shot and possibly dead in her home, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said at a news conference on Monday.”
-Chris Spargo, Inside Edition
“Sima was a quiet leader, a rock, a beacon — a steadying force we all need in our lives,” Tanya Garibian, chairperson of the St. Gregory Church Board, said in the Weekly. “Her warm smile had the remarkable ability to reach out and hug and comfort you from afar. This quiet strength and compassion were the hallmarks of her character. Dylan, her mini-me, carried that same light, humility and love within him.”
-Lillian Avedian, The Armenian Weekly
“The tragic violence that has taken the life of Brianna Welsh and her unborn child has created an unbearable loss for her family.”
-Paul Tucker, Essex County District Attorney
“This is yet another unfortunate reminder about partner abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships and the need for more education and awareness within LGBTQ+ communities. Partner abuse (also called domestic violence and/or dating abuse) is a systemic pattern of behaviors where one person non-consensually uses power to try to control the thoughts, beliefs, actions, body and/or spirit of a partner.”
-REACH Team
“When Martinez, 58, was attacked Saturday with a knife inside a Main Street apartment building, Acosta, 76, stepped in to defend her daughter, according to Genesis Berrios, who was Acosta’s granddaughter and Martinez’s niece.”
-Toni Caushi, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
