Nicole Molinaro: Criminal justice system failing domestic violence victims

The article “Police: Desperate notes in Walmart, Fallingwater led to woman held captive” (July 16, TribLIVE) described incidents of violence that shocked the mind and the soul.

Like others throughout our community, I was horrified to read about the extensive abuse this victim survived, including being held captive, multiple physical and sexual assaults, and ongoing threats to carry out bodily harm to her and her children.

Corey Brewer, the alleged abuser in this case, is charged with violent crimes against the victim, including strangulation, sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful restraint and simple assault. Despite the seriousness of these crimes, Brewer was released from the Allegheny County Jail the day after his arrest and arraignment, after posting only $500, a bond set by District Judge Robert Ravenstahl Jr.

Historically, when setting bond, courts primarily give consideration to one factor: whether the defendant will appear at the next court proceeding. However, in domestic violence cases, the court must set bond under the guidance of Pennsylvania Crimes Code § 2711, which requires that the court examine whether the defendant poses a threat of danger to the victim.

While it is unnecessary for the court to incarcerate many defendants pre-trial, the seriousness of Brewer’s alleged crimes and the safety risk to this victim make the nominal cash bond imposed on Brewer both illogical and alarming.

We have witnessed too often how the pre-trial release of dangerous abusers has resulted in fatal tragedies. One heartbreaking local example happened in 2017, when Matthew Darby murdered Pitt student Alina Sheykhet while released on two separate $10,000 bonds for criminal charges: rape of an ex-girlfriend in Indiana County and criminal trespass after he previously climbed up Sheykhet’s gutter and broke into her apartment.

In this case, immediately after Brewer posted bond and was released from jail, the district attorney’s office filed for a bond review in the Court of Common Pleas, requesting the revocation of his bond and his return to jail. Rather than granting this request, the court modified Brewer’s bond to electronic monitoring.

While an improvement, the victim’s safety is still at risk. Equally dangerous abusers have violated the terms of their bond, resulting in deadly tragedies. Let us never forget Tierne Ewing of Washington County. After holding Ewing against her will and assaulting her over a 12-day period, her estranged husband was released from jail on a $100,000 bond which included GPS tracking and electronic home monitoring. On Aug. 30, 2016, he cut off his GPS monitor, abducted his wifeat gunpoint, and later shot and killed her.

The criminal justice system, both the court and law enforcement, continues to fail domestic violence victims, refusing to understand the dynamics of intimate partner violence and prioritize victim safety. One might ask why the Scott Township Police, after responding to Brewer’s victim’s first found note, which stated that she was being held against her will and had been sexually and physically assaulted, would simply leave the abuser’s residence, even though they could hear movement coming from inside. This lack of action forced the victim to risk her life to leave a second note in order to obtain help.

Taking into account what has already happened in this case, it is hard to see anything other than a complete indifference for the safety of domestic violence victims. While the particular failures in this case are especially egregious, they are, sadly, not uncommon. For more victims to seek help and for our society to avoid more devastating tragedies, the criminal justice system must commit to a culture of believing survivors and prioritizing their safety.

Nicole Molinaro is president and CEO of the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh