2024 Domestic Violence Victims Memorialized in Ceremony
On Friday, January 24, 2025, Violence Free Minnesota, the statewide coalition of over 90 programs working to end relationship abuse, hosted a memorial for Minnesota’s 23 known victims of domestic violence homicide and 2 suspicious death victims in 2024. The event was attended by friends and family of those who were killed, advocates working at Violence Free Minnesota member programs, state legislators, and community members.
“Today, we remember the relatives we lost in 2024. Their absences have had a profound impact. They were parents, musicians, artists, and professors. They were sons and daughters and coworkers, and they should still be here,” said Violence Free Minnesota executive director Guadalupe Lopez. “Every year we hold this memorial to remember those killed due to domestic violence. These deaths are preventable. Community advocates working at our member programs are a lifesaving resource for survivors. However, these programs are in dire need of funding. Their work is invaluable to the communities they serve and they deserve adequate funding to continue to save lives.”
While Violence Free Minnesota will not release their annual Homicide Report: Relationship Abuse in Minnesota until October, the organization was able to confirm 23 known victims in 2024 and is also recognizing two individuals whose deaths the coalition considers suspicious and possibly related to domestic violence. Of the 23 known victims, 13 were killed by a current or former intimate partner, and 10 were bystanders or intervenors murdered in domestic-violence–related situations. At least 10 minor children are now left without a parent due to intimate partner violence in 2024.
A memorial was held at St. Paul College Club to honor the victims and included remarks from Lopez; Representative Kelly Moller; Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition director of operations Linda Thompson; 360 Communities community advocacy supervisors Molly Cihla and Stacie Burke; Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan; and Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls director Kaleena Burke.
The names of victims were read by Mending the Sacred Hoop operations coordinator Natasha Kingbird; Violence Free Minnesota HR/office manager Cormelle Horton; Representative Marion Rarick; Alicia Nichols, Onboard Consulting; and Lopez. A moment of silence was held after each name to conclude the memorial.
If you or a loved one are experiencing abuse, contact Day One, 1-866-223-1111, to connect with services.
Find the Facebook Live video here.
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For 2025 coverage, Minnesota Women’s Press earned a community leadership award, three photography awards, and four editorial awards, including for coverage of social issues and for our Spring 2025 “Know Your Rights” special section supported by Unidos MN. Our publisher was named Journalist of the Year by Violence Free Minnesota for gender-based violence coverage.
