Fatal domestic assault in Meriden highlights challenges of reporting adult child violence
A fatal domestic violence incident involving a father and son in Meriden is drawing attention to the often-overlooked issue of domestic violence between parents and their adult children.
Multiple neighbors told NBC Connecticut that a son beat his father to death with a baseball bat at their home on Sagamore Road. Police responding to the scene shot the son, who later died at the hospital. Neighbors said the son suffered from mental health issues. Authorities continue investigating whether the officer was justified in firing their weapon.
“It all just came to a very bad result. It’s another tragedy,” neighbor Raymond Prue said.
The Connecticut Department of Children and Families says there are about 20,000 family violence incidents resulting in an arrest each year. According to the agency, 73% involve intimate partners.
Amanda Nardozzi, executive director of Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, said domestic violence can take many forms and should not be limited to violence between intimate partners.
“The violence can take any shape or form. You know, it’s not just physical, it’s not just financial,” she said.
Nardozzi said incidents involving adult children and their parents are less common but should be treated just as seriously.
“A lot of times people don’t consider a domestic incident between a parent and a child to be domestic violence,” she said.
Nardozzi, who was previously a police officer, said domestic violence calls are among the most dangerous for officers because emotions often run high and situations can quickly become unpredictable.
“People tend to have their emotions high and really anything can happen at that point,” she said.
She said victims — whether they are parents or their children — can contact advocates through Safe Connect to access services and support.
“You need emergency shelter or you need financial resources, you might need crisis intervention, you need medical attention,” Nardozzi said.
Nardozzi said parent-child domestic violence cases are likely underreported because of stigma or embarrassment about reporting a family member. She said seeking help can be the first step toward breaking the cycle of violence.
“It doesn’t hurt just to pick up the phone and call and ask, ask the advocate on the end of the line like, Hey, this is what I’m experiencing,” she said.
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