Posted on Sep 19, 2023
Kansas student Zaiylah Bronson was killed while pregnant. Deaths like hers are rising
224
6
2
2
2
0
Homicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality, and experts say the problem is getting worse.
WICHITA, Kansas — Dawn Wilson thought the abuse from her husband might stop when she got pregnant. But the mom of four, who was living on a military base in Germany at the time, said it got worse.
“(I was) six months pregnant,” she remembers, “and being drug down the hallway.”
For years, she said she kept the abuse a secret from almost everyone. She was embarrassed. They were having a child together, and she wasn’t planning on leaving.
“I still felt like he loved me,” she said, “so I hid it.”
They eventually divorced. But it was only last year, when her kids were mostly grown, that Wilson finally talked to them about what had happened — and finally sought help to deal with the lingering trauma.
Late last month, the trauma came rushing back when Wilson’s goddaughter, Zaiylah Bronson, was found dead in the trunk of her boyfriend’s car in Wichita. Prosecutors say he strangled her. She was 16 weeks pregnant.
“She was having a boy,” Wilson said, “and that was going to be her new world.”
WICHITA, Kansas — Dawn Wilson thought the abuse from her husband might stop when she got pregnant. But the mom of four, who was living on a military base in Germany at the time, said it got worse.
“(I was) six months pregnant,” she remembers, “and being drug down the hallway.”
For years, she said she kept the abuse a secret from almost everyone. She was embarrassed. They were having a child together, and she wasn’t planning on leaving.
“I still felt like he loved me,” she said, “so I hid it.”
They eventually divorced. But it was only last year, when her kids were mostly grown, that Wilson finally talked to them about what had happened — and finally sought help to deal with the lingering trauma.
Late last month, the trauma came rushing back when Wilson’s goddaughter, Zaiylah Bronson, was found dead in the trunk of her boyfriend’s car in Wichita. Prosecutors say he strangled her. She was 16 weeks pregnant.
“She was having a boy,” Wilson said, “and that was going to be her new world.”
Kansas student Zaiylah Bronson was killed while pregnant. Deaths like hers are rising
Posted from kcur.org
Pregnancy
Murder
Domestic Violence
Wichita
Posted 9 mo ago
Responses: 2
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."For years, she said she kept the abuse a secret from almost everyone. She was embarrassed. They were having a child together, and she wasn’t planning on leaving.
“I still felt like he loved me,” she said, “so I hid it.”
They eventually divorced. But it was only last year, when her kids were mostly grown, that Wilson finally talked to them about what had happened — and finally sought help to deal with the lingering trauma.
Late last month, the trauma came rushing back when Wilson’s goddaughter, Zaiylah Bronson, was found dead in the trunk of her boyfriend’s car in Wichita. Prosecutors say he strangled her. She was 16 weeks pregnant.
“She was having a boy,” Wilson said, “and that was going to be her new world.”
The 19-year-old Bronson, whose family lives in Leavenworth, graduated from high school early and moved to Wichita two years ago to attend Wichita State University. Wilson said she loved children, and she was studying to become a math teacher.
“She loved kids,” Wilson said. “She just loved people.”
Bronson’s death is focusing attention on persistent domestic violence issues that experts say have worsened during the pandemic, including for pregnant women. And it comes as shelters across Kansas are reporting unprecedented demand for their services — at the same time that extra pandemic funding is drying up."...
..."For years, she said she kept the abuse a secret from almost everyone. She was embarrassed. They were having a child together, and she wasn’t planning on leaving.
“I still felt like he loved me,” she said, “so I hid it.”
They eventually divorced. But it was only last year, when her kids were mostly grown, that Wilson finally talked to them about what had happened — and finally sought help to deal with the lingering trauma.
Late last month, the trauma came rushing back when Wilson’s goddaughter, Zaiylah Bronson, was found dead in the trunk of her boyfriend’s car in Wichita. Prosecutors say he strangled her. She was 16 weeks pregnant.
“She was having a boy,” Wilson said, “and that was going to be her new world.”
The 19-year-old Bronson, whose family lives in Leavenworth, graduated from high school early and moved to Wichita two years ago to attend Wichita State University. Wilson said she loved children, and she was studying to become a math teacher.
“She loved kids,” Wilson said. “She just loved people.”
Bronson’s death is focusing attention on persistent domestic violence issues that experts say have worsened during the pandemic, including for pregnant women. And it comes as shelters across Kansas are reporting unprecedented demand for their services — at the same time that extra pandemic funding is drying up."...
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
*sigh* While some blame crime on strangers, many murder victims had a preexisting relationship with their killers...
https://www.grunge.com/1081915/how-common-is-it-for-murderers-to-know-their-victims/
https://www.grunge.com/1081915/how-common-is-it-for-murderers-to-know-their-victims/
How Common Is It For Murderers To Know Their Victims? - Grunge
Per the FBI, homicides in the U.S. increased by 4.3% in 2021. It's a sobering question, but of those homicides, how many of the victims knew their murderer?
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google