Editor’s note: Turning Point Domestic Violence Services released the following statement following the shooting death of Julie (Nuemann) Schmidtke, 36, of Columbus. She was found dead from gunshot wounds in her home, where her estranged husband, Charles Schmidtke, 41, also was found with a gunshot wound to the head in her home.
Turning Point Domestic Violence Services is devastated by the recent loss of yet another life due to domestic violence. The agency shares their deepest sympathies and condolences with the family and loved ones of this young mother. The ripple effect caused by a tragedy such as this, including both homicide and suicide, is insurmountable.
It is incredibly important for the community to recognize that these homicides and all levels of domestic and interpersonal violence are occurring in our very own backyards. This is a harsh reality that Turning Point seeks to address in their services to the community every day.
This tragedy comes at a time when lethality as it pertains to interpersonal violence has seen a dramatic increase. Over a one-year period, deaths at the hands of intimate partners have increased by 181% in the state of Indiana. This drastic increase, in addition to a rise in other types of violence, has created an urgent need for Turning Point and partner domestic violence programs to provide life-saving resources and support to survivors.
Tragedies related to interpersonal violence can be mitigated through systemic, comprehensive, and community intervention and awareness.
If you or someone you know needs help or has any questions about dating or domestic violence, Turning Point is here to help 24/7, 365 days a year. Please call us anytime on the 24-Hour Helpline at 1-800-221-6311.
Turning Point is an agency serving survivors of interpersonal violence in Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson, and Shelby County. Based in Columbus, the agency seeks to prevent and eliminate domestic and dating violence.
