Cayce Vice: Another Tragic Case of Domestic Violence

As divorce lawyers in Augusta, Georgia, we sometimes see, firsthand, in our divorce cases, the tragic results of family violence.  As a former career prosecutor, I prosecuted many cases involving domestic abuse.  Here, in Augusta, this past week, our community experienced a tragic loss of a 21 year old woman who was found dead in her apartment.  Police reportedly believe this young woman, Cayce Vice, is yet another tragic victim of domestic violence.  A prayer vigil was held by family and friends to remember her life.

We should likewise remember all the victims of family violence around the country.  According to Futures Without Violence, three women are murdered, on average, each day in this country by their husbands or boy friends.  Also, according to the Department of Justice, about 3.4 million people, mostly women, are the victims of stalking each year.

But that's enough about statistics.  Let us remember that these numbers are actually real people with families and friends -- like Cayce Vice -- who deserved to live and be left alone, but who are victims of these horrible crimes. 

Divorce and Domestic Violence: When Do you Take Back An Abusive Spouse?

Divorce lawyers don't always have all the answers! I certainly don't! For example, consider the situation of actor Charlie Sheen, as recently reported in the news.

According to news reports, Mr. Sheen and his wife are now trying to reconcile and work out their issues. The couple have two children and, according to published reports from her attorney, they hope to get past the "bad night," when he allegedly held a knife or made threats against her. Aside from published reports, no one really knows what happened in that situation. And arguably, it is no one else's business, is it? I suppose we all should hope that they can work out any problems they may have between them.

But what about other situations in which domestic violence occurs? In other words, if you were a victim of serious spousal abuse, would you ever "go back" and give your spouse another chance? Would you insist that your partner seek counseling as a condition of returning? Also, should it matter whether or not you have children? Of course, children are often victims of an abusive marriage, too, aren't they? There are so many questions in family law matters, like these questions, which can be difficult to answer!

Celebrity Divorces: Charlie Sheen

If you are the publicist for actor Charlie Sheen, then you certainly don't want to see your client's mug shot plastered all over the internet, do you? And if you are Mr. Sheen, then you also certainly don't want to spend part of Christmas day arrested and behind bars on a reported domestic violence charge, do you? But both things apparently occurred a couple of days ago, according to numerous published news reports.

You will recall that Sheen, the star of the popular t.v. comedy series, "Two-And-A-Half Men," went through a really nasty divorce with actress Denise Richards, just a few years ago. Here's hoping that, as Sheen's attorney indicates, this new episode has been blown out of proportion and that Sheen and his current spouse will be able to successfully address this problem, if there is any.

Finally, laying aside whatever happened in Sheen's case, here's also hoping that, in general, more emphasis will be placed on the problem of domestic violence in our society and the ways to properly address it.