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Hundreds of Texans were reportedly killed by intimate partners in 2023

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – A statewide organization has released data that shows how critical the problem of domestic violence is in the state of Texas. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, 205 Texans were killed by their intimate partner in 2023. Four of these murder victims were El Paso residents.

This is evident from the TCFV report entitled “Honoring Texas Victims.” The TCFV released the report during its annual statewide hybrid town hall to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Hundreds of Texans were reportedly killed by intimate partners in 2023
Domestic violence survivor Mariah Gardner speaks about her experiences during the annual Texas Council on Family Violence Town Hall in Austin. (Photo courtesy of TCFV)

Among the speakers was Mariah Gardner. Gardner's ex-husband is accused of shooting her five times and attacking her two daughters with a knife, killing their 11-month-old baby daughter Willow in April 2023.

Willow Grace was 11 months old when her father stabbed her to death in an attack on his ex-wife and other daughter, 2, in San Antonio. The attack occurred on April 10, 2023. The father is charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
(Photo courtesy of Mariah Gardner)

Gardner said she believes the focus on people killed by their intimate partners does not accurately reflect the larger problem of domestic violence.

“I should have been on that list. My children should have been on that list,” Gardner said. “We were not recorded in the data, not because of a lack of effort on the part of the perpetrator, but because we survived. So imagine how many lives have been broken, how many lives have been destroyed.”

Gardner now works as a lawyer and tries to prevent more violence.

Mariah Gardner, center left, is surrounded by her two sons and holds her daughter. Gardner and her daughter were attacked in April 2023. Her ex-husband is charged with the murder of their 11-month-old baby daughter, Willow. (Photo courtesy of Mariah Gardner)

“I think if we included every act of physical violence it would be breathtaking; it would be so heartbreaking and frightening,” Gardner said, adding, “I mean, just in my household, how many violent crimes happened that day?”

Gardner's young daughter Willow Grace was among four children murdered by a family member in Texas in 2023.

And although there were 11 fewer murders than last year (216 in 2022; 205 in 2023), intimate partner homicides increased 13 percent, from 181 in 2019.

A firearm was used in almost 70 percent of the murders.

ABC-7 evening anchor Stephanie Valle served as virtual host and guest speaker to discuss the inspiration behind her national award-winning podcast, “Borderland Crimes.”

Texas Council on Family Violence CEO Gloria Terry (left) speaks with ABC-7 anchor Stephanie Valle (right) about the importance of covering domestic violence in the news. (Photo courtesy of TCFV)

Speakers at the Austin event included Houston City Council member Twila Carter and Rep. Josey Garcia, (D) San Antonio, and Texas youth activist Olivia Julianna.

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