Video of former NFL player shines light on domestic violence

Reporter: Michael Hudak Writer: Drew Hill
Published: Updated:
Credit: TMZ Sports

A new light is being shone on the issue of domestic violence because of a recently released video documenting an abuser that happens to be famous. But many victims are never put in the same spotlight.

One domestic violence victim told WINK News that while violence documented on video is rare, violence is perpetrated daily.

The disturbing video has sent shockwaves across the country. Christy Carpenter is a survivor of domestic violence. “It was a brutal, brutal attack,” Carpenter said.

For her, seeing that video was like reliving a nightmare. “What I experienced was very similar to that was there was him punching her standing over her with his power and his strength. And while she was curled but defenseless against someone of that stature,” Carpenter said. “And with that amount of confidence that they had a right to be doing this to you.”

Yes, she did say that he was confident he had the right to do that to her. But Carpenter also says not to get caught up in the fact that the violent attack was caught on video. “I would, I would, I would venture to say out loud that this happens every day, in normal people’s household, and not just you know, know, a seemingly angry NFL football player, right? It happens everywhere,” she said.

A viewer asked WINK news if Zach Stacy would face more time in jail for destroying a television than for assaulting the mother of his five-month-old child. So, we asked Pamella Seay, a professor of justice studies at Florida Gulf Coast University.

“Because of the violence, and the extreme violence of this act against this person, not only is it a is it domestic violence, it is also a felony,” Seay said.

And you and you may look at anywhere up to 30 years in prison for what he… what he actually did,” said Seay.

Survivors of domestic violence say that the takeaway isn’t the video but that these sorts of attacks happen on a daily basis.

[anvplayer video=”5062997″]


Resources

Charlotte County
Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies
Phone: 941-639-5499
Hotline: 941-627-6000
SMS Text: 941-449-8534
TDD: 941-627-6000
Website: carefl.org
Chat: resourceconnect.com

Collier County
The Shelter for Abused Women & Children
Phone: 239-775-3862
Hotline: 239-775-1101
TDD: 239-775-4265
Website: naplesshelter.org

DeSoto County
Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center
Phone: 941-365-0208
Hotline: 941-365-1976
TDD: 941-365-1976
Website: sparcc.net

Glades County
Abuse Counseling and Treatment
Phone: 239-939-2553
Hotline: 239-939-3112
TDD: 239-939-3112
Website: actabuse.com

Hendry County
Abuse Counseling and Treatment
Phone: 239-939-2553
Hotline: 239-939-3112
TDD: 239-939-3112
Website: actabuse.com

Lee County
Abuse Counseling and Treatment
Phone: 239-939-2553
Hotline: 239-939-3112
TDD: 239-939-3112
Website: actabuse.com

Below are mental health resources available to Southwest Floridians at the national and local levels.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-8255
suicidepreventionlifeline.org

David Lawrence Center  (Collier County)
(239)455-8500
davidlawrencecenter.org

SalusCare (Lee County)
(239)275-4242
saluscareflorida.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Collier County
namicollier.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry Counties
namilee.org

The National Alliance for Caregiving offers a free handbook
Circle of Care: A Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers

Collier County Mental Health Court
ca.cjis20.org/home/collier

Lee County Mental Health Court
ca.cjis20.org/home/lee

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
convio.net

Local Support Groups: Anxiety and Depression Association of America
adaa.org

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help)
hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/mental-health-parity

Local veterans resource: Home Base SWFL
https://homebase.org/home-base-southwest-florida/

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