Fatal incidents of intimate partner violence increased over 40 percent in 2020, according to the latest report from the group Violence Free Minnesota. It mirrors national trends during the COVID pandemic.
At least 30 Minnesotans — including 20 women, one man and three children — died in domestic violence homicides last year — the highest number since 2015.
Victims ranged in age from 72 years to 20 months.
Sixteen minor and nine adult children lost their mothers due to this type of violence, which has been tracked for 30 years by VFM.
Of these 20 women killed by intimate partner violence, gunshots were the cause of death for nine, with the others either beaten, strangled, stabbed or killed by vehicular homicide.
This report was once called the Femicide Report, and VFM also changed its name from the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women.
