Photo of MPD Chief Cathy Lanier, Courtesy of MPD.
Photo of Shaquita Bell, Courtesy of Jackie Winborne
It is good news that there has been an arrest in the case of Shaquita Bell who has been missing for eleven years. It has long been presumed that she was the victim of a domestic homicide, and the charged placed against her ex-boyfriend, the alleged suspect, serve to enhance that belief. Her family and, particularly her mother, Jackie Winborne, never gave up hope or lost faith during these long and agonizing years of her unexplained and suspicious absence in their lives.
Though there may finally be some resolution in this case down the pike, the loss of Shaquita Bell will endure in the lives of her family. Though her children have been embraced with support and love from Ms. Bell’s mother and her husband and other family members, they still have had to grow and mature without the loving connection of their own mother.
All the detectives who worked on this case tirelessly and continuously for all these years deserve high praise as well as Chief Cathy Lanier who demonstrated a renewed interest in pursuing this case with fervor. Chief Lanier has demonstrated a crucial understanding of the impact of criminal victimization on survivors. She could relate to the emotional suffering of Shaquita’s family and vowed she would never give up or forget this case. She proved to be a woman of her word.
In December of this past year, the graduate level victimology class that I teach at Marymount University engaged in a service project in which we honored Shaquita Bell and paid tribute to her mother. The class presented her a scrapbook they created that was comprised of meaningful items which serve as a reminder that others recognize and care about all she has been through. She was also presented a plaque with a meaningful poem that the students selected. Chief Lanier was also honored and recognized for her understanding of criminal victimization and for her steadfast commitment to this case.
The case of Shaquita Bell clearly illustrates lethality risks and the level of severe outcomes that can result in cases of domestic violence. The tragedy and horror that can occur profoundly impacts the lives of those who are left behind and leaves painful and indelible memories.
It is good news that there has been an arrest in the case of Shaquita Bell who has been missing for eleven years. It has long been presumed that she was the victim of a domestic homicide, and the charged placed against her ex-boyfriend, the alleged suspect, serve to enhance that belief. Her family and, particularly her mother, Jackie Winborne, never gave up hope or lost faith during these long and agonizing years of her unexplained and suspicious absence in their lives.
Though there may finally be some resolution in this case down the pike, the loss of Shaquita Bell will endure in the lives of her family. Though her children have been embraced with support and love from Ms. Bell’s mother and her husband and other family members, they still have had to grow and mature without the loving connection of their own mother.
All the detectives who worked on this case tirelessly and continuously for all these years deserve high praise as well as Chief Cathy Lanier who demonstrated a renewed interest in pursuing this case with fervor. Chief Lanier has demonstrated a crucial understanding of the impact of criminal victimization on survivors. She could relate to the emotional suffering of Shaquita’s family and vowed she would never give up or forget this case. She proved to be a woman of her word.
In December of this past year, the graduate level victimology class that I teach at Marymount University engaged in a service project in which we honored Shaquita Bell and paid tribute to her mother. The class presented her a scrapbook they created that was comprised of meaningful items which serve as a reminder that others recognize and care about all she has been through. She was also presented a plaque with a meaningful poem that the students selected. Chief Lanier was also honored and recognized for her understanding of criminal victimization and for her steadfast commitment to this case.
The case of Shaquita Bell clearly illustrates lethality risks and the level of severe outcomes that can result in cases of domestic violence. The tragedy and horror that can occur profoundly impacts the lives of those who are left behind and leaves painful and indelible memories.
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