ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Too many families have taught us the danger doesn\u2019t start the day of the homicide. It starts long before.<\/p>\n
That was the message from Florida Representative Debra Tendrich as she responded to two recent cases in Central Florida.<\/p>\n
In Orange County, authorities say Bryan Watts, a convicted felon, shot and killed his two young daughters, Tiana and Jaliyajh, before killing himself at their apartment last week. The killings happened one day after Watts was in court on charges accusing him of beating his girlfriend.<\/p>\n
Investigators say after an alleged attack last November, the girlfriend left with little Jaliyah.<\/p>\n
Tendrich said these cases show violence can reach children in places that should be safe.<\/p>\n
A child\u2019s safest place should be their home, but we\u2019re seeing in these cases that\u2019s not the case, Tendrich said.<\/p>\n
Tendrich also pointed to the death of 3-year-old Paisley Brown in Marion County. Detectives say the child was beaten to death in February inside her home. The mother\u2019s boyfriend, Jeroen Coombs, is charged with murder after investigators say he admitted tying down and punching the child. Paisley\u2019s mother, Jennifer Kendrick, faces a charge of child neglect.<\/p>\n
Tendrich, a domestic violence survivor, said leaving an abusive situation can be especially difficult when children and finances are involved. Her new proposal, House Bill 277, would increase the amount of financial help available to victims who need to relocate.<\/p>\n
A lot of times victims will stay is because of children, because the cost of leaving, Tendrich said. This bill actually increases the victim relocation allowance.<\/p>\n
The bill also strengthens penalties for repeat offenders, expands electronic monitoring, and would allow judges to order abuse suspects to stay away from a victim\u2019s pets.<\/p>\n
That provision is significant for Harbor House of Central Florida, which operates the Paws for Peace kennel program so survivors can bring cats and dogs with them when they seek safety.<\/p>\n
The organization\u2019s CEO said the group is especially encouraged by language that recognizes threats or harm to family pets as a factor in protective injunction cases. The CEO noted abusers often use pets as a means of control and many survivors delay leaving because they fear for their animals\u2019 safety.<\/p>\n
If passed and signed, HB 277 would take effect statewide July 1.<\/p>\n