Ohio domestic violence deaths reach record high, report shows

By Farah Siddiqi

Ohio has seen a 37% rise in domestic violence fatalities in the past year, marking the highest total since the Ohio Domestic Violence Network began tracking deaths a decade ago.

The group’s new annual report showed 157 people lost their lives in 108 incidents between July 2024 and June 2025.

Lisa DeGeeter, senior policy and prevention specialist for the network, said firearms remain the most common cause of death.

"This year, 84% of all the fatalities were a result of gun violence," DeGeeter reported. "We had 40 murder-suicides; 43 of those 44 cases involved guns. If Ohio had disarmed all these offenders, we might have set the opposite record, for the fewest number of lives lost."

According to the report, 56% of the victims were people of color, highlighting ongoing racial disparities in safety and access to justice.

Maria York, policy director for the network, said the surge reflects both a rise in violence and stronger reporting.

"Why did we go from 114 fatalities last year to 157 this year, the highest we've ever recorded? More journalists are naming these tragedies for what they are – domestic violence homicides – and digging deeper into the facts," York explained.

York added while the increase is alarming, new efforts are underway to address the crisis. The network and state legislators have formed a bipartisan Safer Communities Work Group to strengthen prevention and response systems. The initiative brings together lawmakers, courts and advocacy groups to identify service gaps and improve coordination statewide.