Overview
- In Peoria, a woman’s 911 call during an active attack led to the arrest of boyfriend Gilbert Tamayo, 25, who is charged with sexual assault, strangulation, and interfering with an emergency call and is being held in jail.
- Experts cite financial strain, isolation, heightened expectations, and increased alcohol or drug use as factors that intensify abusive dynamics during the holidays.
- Shelters and hotlines, including the New Life Center in Arizona, Greenhouse 17 in Kentucky, and San Antonio’s Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, remain available around the clock but report persistent capacity pressure.
- Advocates emphasize that leaving an abuser can be especially dangerous and urge survivors to develop a safety plan with trained staff before attempting to exit.
- A San Antonio survivor who reached shelter in October describes escalating threats and choking and says she expects her first holiday without fear, as staff note brief holiday returns can be followed by a spike in calls.