The spate of violence began in May when 40-year-old Chahnaz Kebaier was shot to death outside Chapel Hill's Mary Scroggs Elementary school. Police said the attack was the result of an ongoing domestic dispute.
Then in August, 43-year-old Agata Filipska Vellotti was gunned down in a townhome community in Wakefield. Her estranged husband then called 911 and admitted he committed the murder.
And then on Monday, 41-year-old Kathleen Ann Bertrand's ex-husband murdered her in a parking lot at Raleigh's Cameron Village shopping center before taking his own life.
In the past two years, there have been more than a hundred homicides blamed on domestic violence in the state.
Friday, in a conference room in Raleigh, dozens of attorneys, judges, advocates, and counselors met to talk about the ongoing problem.
"It's sad and we think about the families and friends who are dealing with the issue. We also just want to get out there. A lot of people, when this type of thing happens, they want to know 'What can I do' and we want to encourage them to get in touch with their local domestic violence program and ask 'How can we support you' because domestic violence programs need a lot of support. They need volunteers," said Karen Parker, who chairs the Domestic Violence Commission.
Parker said the two women killed in Wake County in the past two weeks took the legal steps they were supposed to to protect themselves, but it wasn't enough.
"There are a lot of good laws out there. We've made some great advances with our laws, a lot of them are still being implemented. Sometimes we need funding to implement them. Sometimes we need funding for additional resources. Our shelters are really struggling right now. We've had some shut down this year because they just don't have the funding," said Parker.
Click here to learn more about the mission and programs offered by the North Carolina Council for Women.
Meanwhile, businesses in Cameron Village are trying to help Kathleen Bertrand's three surviving children.
The Village Draft House will be giving 10 percent of its entire sales from Saturday 9/15 to the Kathleen Bertrand Memorial Fund.
In addition to a monetary donation, Bailey’s will be forwarding all proceeds from their “A Time to Give” watch battery replacement program. Come get your battery replaced and all proceeds will go to the fund.
CT Weekends will donate- 10 percent of regular price merchandise sales this Saturday
Madison will donate 10 percent of all purchases on Saturday
Fifi's will donate 10 percent of all purchases on Saturday and Sunday
Certain Things will donate 10 percent of Saturdays sales
Monte Cristo's and The Rhinestone Byrd will donate 10 percent of all purchases on Saturday. Additionally, Monte Cristo's will be donating 15% of all website purchases through the month of September.
Noodles & Co. will donate 10 percent of Saturday's sales
Maupin Travel will donate 10 percent of revenue raised by CV merchants, up to $500
Light Years will donate 10 percent of Saturday's sales
Fabrik will donate 10 percent of Saturday's sales
Link to fund: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/229236
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