Murder underscores need to aid abuse victims

Amid copious tears and cherished remembrances, a case spotlighting the tragic consequences of domestic violence concluded Thursday, Dec. 18, in Chester County Court.

Gregory A. Twyman, 45, pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Jamica M. Woods, 37, on May 21, 2013, his longtime partner and the mother of their teenage daughter, at the residence they had shared on Rokeby Road in East Fallowfield Township. Chester County Court Judge Jacqueline C. Cody imposed a life sentence. By entering the plea, Twyman avoided the risk of the death penalty.

Jamica M. Woods was a year away from earning a degree at HACC's Lancaster campus when she was murdered, her mother told the court.
Jamica M. Woods was a year away from earning a degree at HACC's Lancaster campus when she was murdered, her mother told the court.

Chester County Deputy District Attorney Michelle E. Frei said the couple had argued a week earlier, and Woods said she wanted to end the relationship. She then went to Ocean City, Md., where she had to contact police after receiving threats from Twyman.

Less than 24 hours after she returned home, she was murdered, Frei said, adding that Twyman had changed his Facebook page a day earlier to feature an image of a shotgun and shell.

Members of the county’s Crime Victims Center and the Domestic Violence Center attended the hearing, along with about 20 members of the victim’s family. The victim’s daughter, Janaija; her mother, Gloria Holos; and her cousin, Angela Shelton, all spoke about the kindness and optimism that Jamica Woods exuded.

Twyman, who was represented by Assistant Public Defenders James A. McMullen and David Miller, declined his opportunity to address the court. His daughter said she wanted the court to know that her mother loved her father, despite their differences. “My mom had a huge heart,” she said.

Court records show that Woods sought a Protection-from-Abuse  (PFA) petition three times, most recently in December 2012; however, no PFA was active at the time of her death. Records show a tumultuous history dating back to 1998, when Twyman was ordered to serve 71 days in jail for threatening Woods.

Dolly Wideman-Scott, who heads the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC), said the tragedy underscores the difficulties of escaping an abusive relationship. According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, between 2007 and 2011, 788 people in Pennsylvania died as a result of domestic violence.

Gregory A. Twyman avoided the threat of the death penalty by pleading guilty on Thursday  to the first-degree murder of his longtime girlfriend.
Gregory A. Twyman avoided the threat of the death penalty by pleading guilty on Thursday to the first-degree murder of Jamica M. Woods, his longtime girlfriend and the mother of their teenage daughter.

Wideman-Scott said it is important for victims and their loved ones to know that resources are available.  “Leaving is the most dangerous time for victims,” she said. “We recommend that they not do it alone; it is so important for them to let people know the relationship has ended.”

The agency, which operates a 24-hour hotline, also wants victims to know they don’t have to face their difficulties by themselves, Wideman-Scott said. She said counseling, shelter, even relocation services, are available.

The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. (CVC) issued a statement to let residents know that it is “just a phone call away for anyone who needs our services or wants to schedule one of our prevention/education programs.” The agency has been providing support and accompaniment to hospitals and court proceedings to crime victims for 40 years.

For more information about CVC, call 610-692-1926. CVC’s two 24-hour crisis hotlines are available to victims of all types of crime. They are: 610-692-7273 (sexual assault) and 610-692-7420 (other crimes).

More information on domestic violence prevention can be found at the state organization’s web site at http://www.pcadv.org or the county resource: http://www.dvccc.com. The 24-hour hotline is 888-711-6270.

 

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