Nonfatal Strangulation: Identification, Prosecution, and Delivering Hope

All survivors and witnesses of domestic violence may be adversely affected, leaving lasting psychological scars. A unique subset of domestic violence is non-fatal strangulation. The psychological impact of this near-death experience is very intense. The strangler is demonstrating the ultimate in power and control. At a sexual distance they demonstrate they literally hold the life of their victim in their hands. Because of rapid brain anoxia the victim may not have a memory of the details of the attack. There often is a lack of the physical evidence seen in fatal strangulation attacks. The victims often do not cooperate with prosecution out of fear of a subsequent attack. This type of attack is a harbinger of future murder. The victim is 7.5 times more likely to ultimately die at the hands of their attacker. These attackers are often the perpetrators of mass casualty attacks. In 2017 76 percent of the officers killed in the line of duty were killed by a strangler who was still out on the street because the case was being handled as a misdemeanor crime. Children exposed to this level of violence in the home often see this as “normal” and grow up to be attackers or victims in the future. These unique cases require a team approach for successful prosecution. Both the victims and their children need hope to break the cycle of violence.