Questions remain in murder-suicide

GREENE CO., Ohio (WDTN) - Detectives with the Greene County Sheriff's office are still working to determine a motive behind a recent murder-suicide that has left the small community of Miami Township in disbelief. 

Officials confirmed Monday Jimmy Carter, 51, shot and killed his wife, Elizabeth Carter, then took his own life.

Earlier that Saturday, hundreds of miles away in Missouri, Kansas City linebacker Jevon Belcher shot and killed his live-in girlfriend, then later took his own life at the Chief's training facility. 

Patti Swartzrauber, who is the executive director for Dayton's domestic violence resource agency, said homicidal violence is a tell tale sign there has been violence in the relationship prior.  She encourages people to be alert if a loved one is about to leave a relationship, to take any threats made seriously and know what resources are available to help avoid such a tragic end result. 

"We will assist anyone who is trying to leave their partner due to domestic violence," said Swartzrauber.  "We will go to court with them as needed, we have groups, support groups for victims of domestic violence.  We will help them if they are attempting to set up a new household."

Officials have reported, in both incidents family members were present.  Belcher's three month old daughter was in the home when he opened fire on her mother.  Though only an infant, Swartzrauber said this can have a lasting affect on a child and often requires counseling.  A service the Artemis Center offers.

"What we know is children who have witnessed domestic violence are very similar to children who have been physically abused," said Swartzrauber.  "They show a lot of the same signs and symptoms and sometimes those symptoms reappear as the child gets a little older."

The Artemis Center is located at 310 west Monument Avenue in downtown Dayton.  All of the agency's services are free.

The agency also has a 24-hour domestic violence hotline at (937) 222- SAFE.