In a poignant ceremony held at St. Paul College Club on Summit Avenue, Minnesotans who lost their lives to domestic violence were remembered and honored by Violence Free Minnesota, the statewide coalition working to end relationship abuse. Thirty-one Minnesotans were killed in intimate partner homicides last year, with two others succumbing to suspicious deaths that may be linked to intimate partner homicide.
The victims, described as "mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, sons, cousins, friends, and beloved members of our communities," left behind a trail of grief and devastation. However, the coalition seeks to shift the focus from the tragedy to the immense love and joy these individuals brought to the world. The event also serves as a call to action to address the root causes of domestic violence and ensure that those who are vulnerable – particularly LGBTQ+ individuals and those who trust deeply – receive protection.
Among the victims honored were Shaniya Thompson, 29, of St. Paul, whose devoted motherhood and love for her family was tragically cut short by her ex-partner's shooting; Amy Doverspike, a talented chef and former correctional officer, whose life was taken in a violent act by someone she trusted; and Christine "Chrissy" Morris, a bright light who left behind a 2-year-old daughter and a community that cherished her love and strength.
But the event also shed light on the often-overlooked victims of domestic violence – those who are not counted in statistics but whose lives were still precious and worth remembering. The story of Sam Nordquist, a 2020 graduate of Face to Face Academy in St. Paul, serves as a powerful reminder that emotional and psychological abuse can be just as deadly as physical violence.
"Sam wasn't a statistic," his sister Kayla said during the ceremony. "He wasn't a headline. He was love, laughter, and a heart that trusted deeply." Sam's tragic death highlights the urgent need for awareness, education, and support to prevent domestic violence. The Nordquist family has established the "Stand with Sam Scholarship Fund" at Face to Face Academy, and Violence Free Minnesota is working tirelessly to ensure that those who are vulnerable receive protection.
The event serves as a powerful reminder that violence can start quietly, with control disguised as care, isolation masquerading as protection, and fear slowly replacing love. As Kayla Nordquist said, "We don't talk enough about how vulnerable people... are targeted." It's time to acknowledge the signs of abuse, believe those who need help, and intervene early to prevent tragedy.
As the community gathers to remember the victims and honor their lives, it's clear that prevention matters. Education saves lives, silence kills, and believing people matters. The message from Violence Free Minnesota is one of hope: "Take your gut seriously. Pay attention to sudden isolation... Don't ignore controlling behavior just because it doesn’t leave bruises."
The victims, described as "mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, sons, cousins, friends, and beloved members of our communities," left behind a trail of grief and devastation. However, the coalition seeks to shift the focus from the tragedy to the immense love and joy these individuals brought to the world. The event also serves as a call to action to address the root causes of domestic violence and ensure that those who are vulnerable – particularly LGBTQ+ individuals and those who trust deeply – receive protection.
Among the victims honored were Shaniya Thompson, 29, of St. Paul, whose devoted motherhood and love for her family was tragically cut short by her ex-partner's shooting; Amy Doverspike, a talented chef and former correctional officer, whose life was taken in a violent act by someone she trusted; and Christine "Chrissy" Morris, a bright light who left behind a 2-year-old daughter and a community that cherished her love and strength.
But the event also shed light on the often-overlooked victims of domestic violence – those who are not counted in statistics but whose lives were still precious and worth remembering. The story of Sam Nordquist, a 2020 graduate of Face to Face Academy in St. Paul, serves as a powerful reminder that emotional and psychological abuse can be just as deadly as physical violence.
"Sam wasn't a statistic," his sister Kayla said during the ceremony. "He wasn't a headline. He was love, laughter, and a heart that trusted deeply." Sam's tragic death highlights the urgent need for awareness, education, and support to prevent domestic violence. The Nordquist family has established the "Stand with Sam Scholarship Fund" at Face to Face Academy, and Violence Free Minnesota is working tirelessly to ensure that those who are vulnerable receive protection.
The event serves as a powerful reminder that violence can start quietly, with control disguised as care, isolation masquerading as protection, and fear slowly replacing love. As Kayla Nordquist said, "We don't talk enough about how vulnerable people... are targeted." It's time to acknowledge the signs of abuse, believe those who need help, and intervene early to prevent tragedy.
As the community gathers to remember the victims and honor their lives, it's clear that prevention matters. Education saves lives, silence kills, and believing people matters. The message from Violence Free Minnesota is one of hope: "Take your gut seriously. Pay attention to sudden isolation... Don't ignore controlling behavior just because it doesn’t leave bruises."
the thing that gets me about this story is how we can forget that these victims are still MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, BROTHERS, AND FRIENDS who were loved by so many people. like, think about it... 31 lives lost to domestic violence last year alone and the community comes together to remember them as more than just stats or news headlines. that's what I call powerful 
this is so sad 
domestic violence is such a big issue in our society and we need to talk more about it 
i feel like we always hear about the victims but never the ones who are still here 
their stories are just as important in raising awareness and preventing these tragedies from happening in the first place 
sam nordquist's story is giving me chills 
emotional abuse is so real and not enough people recognize it 
we need to support those who are vulnerable and make sure they're getting the help they need 
. Let's make sure to support those who need help and create a culture where everyone feels loved and protected 
this event is so powerful 
the "Stand with Sam Scholarship Fund" is an amazing idea 
let's not forget those who aren't counted in statistics but still deserve to be remembered & honored 
Domestic violence victims are always the real MVPs (Most Valuable Partners in Trauma) 
. I mean, who needs a partner when you can have PTSD and emotional scars to last a lifetime? 
. Control disguised as care? Isolation masquerading as protection? That's code for "I'm going to hurt you if you don't do what I say." 
Let's make sure we're paying attention and taking action before things escalate.
. We need to start talking more about this stuff and supporting those who are vulnerable 
. Education and awareness are key, but it's also about listening to each other without judgment and stepping in when we see signs of abuse 
. I'm glad the Nordquist family is taking action with that scholarship fund – let's keep raising our voices and creating change 
. like, 31 people lost their lives last year & it's not fair at all 
i'm so inspired by Sam's sister Kayla's words "believe people matters" that's some real talk right there 
. we need to start having those tough conversations about emotional abuse and control because that's where the real harm is 
. and can we please talk more about supporting our most vulnerable communities, especially the lgbtq+ folks? they're already at a higher risk of being targeted...
it's heartbreaking how we lose so many souls to domestic violence, like they're just statistics or headlines 
, but they were real people with loved ones who are left behind 
. we need to acknowledge the signs of abuse, believe those who need help, and intervene early to prevent more tragedies from happening 
the way they shifted the focus from tragedy to love and joy its really beautiful. Theyre not just honoring the victims but also educating people about domestic violence its a huge issue in our communities 
. And im loving the "take your gut seriously" message 
. The worst part is, it's not just the physical abuse that's deadly, but also emotional & psychological abuse 
. Those who are vulnerable, especially LGBTQ+ individuals, need protection 
.