BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A vigil was held Thursday, October 24th to remember Myesha Davis, who was killed by her fiance three years ago. Her sister, Trinicia Ricks, has now dedicated her life to domestic violence advocacy and awareness.

“I’m doing this with meaning – to bring awareness and to let women know that you are strong – you are beautiful, you are loved, someone will welcome you with open arms and you don’t have to dwell on that. situation,” says Ricks.

Each year in Louisiana, 60 murders are the result of domestic violence. That’s according to the Louisiana Domestic Violence Coalition. Ricks says he wishes he knew then what he knows now. By sharing her sister’s story, she hopes to save others from the same fate.

“There were so many red flags that I completely overlooked it,” says Ricks. “When someone is literally trying to break you down, mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, financially – people don’t even realize that some people will wear you down or keep you from working to keep you in a bad place to keep you down. control.”

Unfortunately, this is the case for many Louisianans. BRPD Corporal Saundra Watts says domestic violence has increased in Baton Rouge since the pandemic. Corporal Watts says officers are called to multiple domestic violence situations every day. She says on those calls, they average one arrest every day.

“The hardest part is you know when you see these recidivists – they keep doing it and they keep doing it and they keep doing it – and then sometimes, unfortunately, it leads to someone’s death,” Cpl. says Watts.

Ricks says you don’t know what you don’t know, which is why she’s become so passionate about spreading awareness and helping others in a similar situation.

“I wish I had been gentler with her and asked more questions and tried to figure out what we could have done to get her out of that situation safely,” Ricks says.

If you are in an abuse/domestic violence situation, organizations such as IRIS Center, The Butterfly SocietyTHE Louisiana Domestic Violence Coalitionand local law enforcement are all equipped to help you with things like protection, housing, counseling and whatever else you might need.

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