SISSONVILLE, W.Va. — Domestic violence victim advocates say tragically what happened in a Sissonville residence early Saturday morning has happened before—way too many times.
“This didn’t have to happen,” Charleston YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program Executive Director Julie Britton said about the shooting death of Joanna Phillips.
The 46-year-old Phillips was allegedly shot and killed by her husband Jason Phillips, also 46. He called Metro 911 to report the shooting. He said his wife had pushed him to his limit.
He’s in jail charged with first degree murder.
“It absolutely should have happened,” Britton repeated Monday. “She should have had all of this attention from the court system when she was still alive.”
Court records show Jason Phillips turned himself in Oct. 10 on a domestic battery warrant after an incident in March at their Sissonville home. He allegedly attacked Joanna Phillips, striking her separate times. He was free on personal recognize bond and ordered not to have any contact, direct or indirect, with his wife.
Britton said Joanna Phillips appears to have done all she could to protect herself but it wasn’t enough.
“We have amazing advocates and amazing law enforcement but our court system, as wonderful as they are, aren’t equipped to handle violence within a family in a way that makes any true positive change until something horrible like this happens,” Britton said.
There was also a 2021 incident involving the couple where Jason Phillips allegedly pointed a pistol at his wife’s head during an argument.
Britton said Phillips’ comment of being “pushed to the limit” is telling.
“That’s the thing with abusers–their limit is different than the rest of our limits,” she said. “When someone pushes most of us to our limits, we take a break and walk away, we reconvene, comeback and have that conversation. With abusers leaving is the most dangerous time.”
Britton said there needs to be treatment and counseling offered for an entire family in these types of situations before they end like the one ended Saturday morning.
Britton said the state Supreme Court is helping with improvements in the state by promote opportunities to remotely file for domestic violence petitions. Two more counties, Mercer and McDowell, began offering the service earlier this month. She said that will help keep domestic violence victims safe.
Britton said unfortunately the Resolve Family Abuse Program shelters are as full as ever. She said they have strides in getting vehicles more permanent housing through new partnerships.