Have you lost a loved one to homicide?

Help can be found here.

If you’ve found your way to this website, it’s likely you’ve encountered a profound loss, one that words can hardly capture. My heart aches for you, acknowledging the deep sorrow such a loss brings.

Like you, I too have known the heart-wrenching pain of such a devastating tragedy. I lost my partner of ten years to homicide. The aftershocks of his death collapsed my entire life, and for a while, I felt as if a part of me had died too. You may be struggling with similar feelings, and it’s okay.

Embarking on the journey of grief following the murder of a loved one is a horrifying experience marked by complexity and unrelenting emotional turmoil. This unique form of sorrow carries with it not only the pain of an untimely loss, but also the heavy burden of knowing the loss was the result of a deliberate act.

Homicide loss shakes up our sense of what’s right and fair. The pursuit of justice often mirrors the stormy nature of grief itself – unpredictable and varying in intensity. One minute you might feel okay, and the next, you won’t. The path through this kind of traumatic grief is the type of experience no one would want to endure. It’s messy and super hard, but also, surprisingly, it can open a deep opportunity for healing when you least expect it.

This website has been created with you in mind, with the intention to be a source of comfort, as well as a gentle guide, and a practical companion in your moments of need.

On behalf of the Ohio Victim Witness Association, we extend our deepest sympathies and hope this website serves as a lighthouse in the dark; a companion through this challenging time.

k. Neycha Herford

Please take time to look through our website when you are able. We hope you’ll find resources that will support you in your healing during an incredibly difficult time. We have guidance on what to do right away, information on trauma and grief, self-care, mental health needs, criminal justice and crime victim rights information, comprehensive resources, and a special children’s corner with information geared towards children.

See our Helpline page for information on contacting us, or simply reach out to us at 1-866-ASK-OVWA (275-6892). Sometimes it may feel easier to call or text instead of looking through a website. Sometimes, both options are helpful. We are here when you need support or have questions.

A Word on Language

In this website, we will be referring to anyone who has been affected by the death of a loved one by homicide as “co-victims.”

A homicide victim’s family or next of kin may not be biological family members. A co-victim can include a parent/legal guardian or adoptive parent, child(ren), spouse/partner, siblings, friends, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and others who knew the victim. Community members can also be impacted by homicide and be considered co-victims.

We recognize that there are other valid terms such as “co-survivor” or “homicide survivor” — however, by using the term “co-victim” we recognize that in the State of Ohio these individuals have rights afforded to them through the Ohio Revised Code, may participate in the criminal justice system on behalf of their loved one, and require resources available for victims of crime due to their loss. Specifically, Marsy’s Law defines a victim as “the person against whom the criminal act is committed or the person directly and proximately harmed by the criminal offense.”

Grant Support

This project was supported by an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), subgrant numbers 2020 and 2021-JG-E01-6725, graciously awarded by the State Administering Office of the Office of Criminal Justice Services. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the state or the U.S. Department of Justice.