Domestic violence fatalities reported in Ohio and Colorado

Recent reports indicate concerning trends in domestic violence fatalities in both Ohio and Colorado. In Ohio, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network reported 134 fatalities between July 2025 and June 2026. While this represents a 15% decrease from the previous year, the prior year had seen a 37% increase, making the current figure the second-highest in the last decade. Of these fatalities, 89 were victims and 45 were perpetrators, with more than half of the perpetrators having criminal histories.

In response to the crisis in Ohio, lawmakers are considering House Bill 566, the Break the Silence Act, which would require healthcare professionals to implement domestic violence protocols and conduct private interviews to document potential abuse. Additionally, Senate Bill 225 aims to expand the state's Address Confidentiality Program.

In Colorado, data from the Attorney General’s office shows that domestic violence deaths have remained relatively steady, with a slight increase in 2025. There were 78 deaths across 57 cases in 2025, compared to 72 deaths in 54 cases in 2024. This trend persists even as overall homicides in the state decreased by nearly 17% during the same period.