Man Cleared of Manslaughter in Landmark Domestic Abuse-Related Suicide Case

Ryan Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive control but found not guilty of causing Kiena Dawes' 2022 suicide after years of abuse.

Kiena Dawes, 23, left a suicide note blaming her abusive partner, Ryan Wellings, for driving her to take her own life in July 2022.
Wellings, 30, was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behavior but acquitted of manslaughter in a rare trial addressing abuse-related suicide.
The court heard harrowing details of Wellings’ abuse, including threats to disfigure Dawes with acid and physical violence during her pregnancy.
Kiena’s family expressed disappointment with the verdict, calling for greater accountability for abusers in cases of domestic abuse-linked suicides.
Advocacy groups highlighted the need for increased recognition of the connection between domestic abuse and suicide, with 93 such cases reported in 2023 alone.