New data from Savannah Police shows that domestic violence deaths have doubled despite drop in calls to police

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - It is a troubling trend when it comes to domestic violence in Savannah.

Savannah Police numbers show despite a slight drop in domestic violence calls domestic violence deaths are up this year doubling last year’s numbers.

The total Domestic Violence incidents in Savannah City limits trail almost a 100 in 2024.

But the total number of domestic violence deaths tell a different story.

The Savannah Police Department’s Family Violence Unit has responded to 251 calls of domestic violence so far this year which is a continuation of a falling statics from the last 8 years.

“In general they are doing a better job of seeing these incidents, knowing what they are, investigating them, and pushing cases forward to document them properly and push them through the process and get them the resources they need,” said Constance Hogan, Family Violence Unit.

Down but deadly— in 2024 SPD reported 3 DV deaths, this year there are 6, the most since 2019.

Constance Hogan is a detective for the Savannah police department’s Family Violence Unit. Hogan spends nearly everyday investigating cases of domestic violence.

And she says its still difficult to predict what offenses can turn fatal.

“You can’t really predict what people are capable of,” said Hogan. “Because often we don’t always know what all that victim is going through.”

Safe Shelter in Savannah says they are the 2nd largest domestic violence advocacy shelter in the state of Georgia. They also say they have continuously been full as more people have been calling on them for refuge.

“You want those phone calls to come in because you want people to know that you are here, but you also don’t want those calls,” said Daisy Hernandez, Safe Shelter, Director of Community Outreach. “Because you don’t want domestic violence to be out there.”

As a group pushing hard to see change in the community, Daisy Hernandez with Safe Shelter says every time she hears of another domestic-related death she can’t help but wonder if her organization could have helped prevent it.

“You are sad, you are empathic to their family, there is so much that goes into getting assistance and when we hear about it we fell like we well, we are just a phone call away,” said Hernandez.

If you or anyone you know is in a domestic violence situation please reach out at 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836).