Advocates share domestic violence resources for military families

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- ABC11 is going deeper into the murder of an Army nurse in Fayetteville.

Lt. Holley Lynn James, 24, disappeared suddenly in 2008. Her burned body was found weeks later, miles away. Authorities later determined her killer to be her husband, Marine Corp. John Wimunc.

James sought help -- she got a protective order two months before her life was taken.

"I think it's important that if our friend has confided in us that they may be experiencing domestic violence in their relationship, that we create some type of safety plan in place so that if they are acting out of character or not following their routine, that might then serve as a red flag to the friend to be able to either check in on their friend or contact the appropriate authorities," said Nisha Williams, of the NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Domestic violence advocates say women in the military experience intimate-partner violence at a rate of about 36%.

"We also know that folks who are in the military oftentimes have PTSD diagnoses. With PTSD diagnosis also leads to increased chance that that person may also either be abused or may also themselves perpetrate abuse," said Williams.

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Wimunc and a fellow Marine were charged with James' murder. Advocates say access to a weapon in a domestic violence situation can be deadly.

"We do know that when there is domestic violence in a home and a firearm in a home, a person is much more likely to die of a homicide than someone who has not experienced domestic violence and does not have a firearm in the home, " said Williams.

Williams said members of the military and their families can seek help at a local domestic-violence shelter office or seek support at the family advocacy program on base.

"If you know you're in an abusive relationship and you're thinking about leaving, that you engage in safety planning with your local DV agency and also engage with the court system if you feel that that is a safe place for you to go," said Williams.