Deadly Weekend for Kansas Women

Statement from Sandy Barnett, executive director, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence

Topeka, Kan. – We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of Karen, Emily and Lauren Kahler who were murdered Thanksgiving weekend in Burlingame. We are horrified, and yet these deaths serve as a stark reminder that Kansas has a long way to go to achieve communities free from domestic violence.

After reviewing online court records, it was clear that Karen Kahler was attempting to free herself from this relationship. She filed for divorce and temporary custody of the children in January. She filed for a protection order in March, and it appears that James Kraig assaulted her on the day he was served with the protection order. A neighbor has said that during the summer months he continued to harass and intimidate Karen in a variety of ways, including slashing her tires and ripping out her utility cables. Unfortunately, delays requested by the defense in the pending criminal case and extended litigation by the respondent in the civil case allowed him to continue abusing her.

When battered women attempt to leave their husbands or boyfriends, they face increased risks for violence, including lethal violence. While KCSDV has non information about what happened in Karen’s marriage before she was murdered by her husband, we do know that all the information that we could find pointed toward her reaching out to others for help. She reached out for help in her divorce, and the system failed her by sending her to mediation and parenting classes. She sought help in the criminal case, and the system failed her by allowing the case to be continued at least four times with no apparent sanctions for his violation of the no contact order.

In the aftermath, the media is reporting that the Kahler’s were “sparring over the children,” experiencing a “year-long slide” in their marriage, and that the murder was a result of a “domestic dispute” that “boiled to the surface.” These characterizations are incorrect, and they trivialize the true violence, fear and trauma experienced by all victims of domestic violence, especially those separating from their abusers.

In 2008, 19 adults and 14 children were murdered as a result of domestic violence in Kansas. With Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas reports yet to be filed, at least 18 adults and eight children have been murdered so far in 2009, including:

• Rosa M. Gomez who was murdered by her ex-husband at her workplace in Salina. She had divorced him three years ago and currently had a protection order against him, which he violated three times prior to killing her. Charles R. Losey, a co-worker trying to protect her, was also murdered.
• Jeannie Jacobsen, a mother of three, was recently murdered by her boyfriend, Armando Mosqueda, in Lyons. Jeannie filed for a protection order one week prior to her murder because he had threatened, bruised and strangled her. Armando was currently on probation for aggravated battery of an ex-girlfriend who had sought protection from him twice. He previously served three years in prision for aggravated battery of a man.

KCSDV urges all communities to look inward and assess what they can do to create safer and more immediate responses for battered women and their children. As individuals, there’s something that everyone can do to make a difference for victims – simply knowing the Kansas Crisis Hotline number, 888-END-ABUSE, and the HelpChangeKansas.com website ensures that everyone will be ready to assist when someone they know needs their help. In addition, please call your legislators and ask them to maintain funding for like saving services for victims of domestic violence and their children across the state.