The sisters of an Irish woman who was tragically killed in an apparent murder-suicide in New York City have spoken out about the importance of recognizing “red flags” in relationships. Denise Morgan, a 39-year-old mother-of-one originally from County Louth, was found dead at a property in Queens on October 21st. The New York Police Department confirmed that her former partner, 33-year-old Joed Taveras, was also found dead at the scene.
Lisa Morgan, one of Denise’s sisters, spoke to RTÉ Prime Time about the need to raise awareness about domestic violence. “You have to make a plan to not let them know you’re going… you have to get out,” she urged. Denise had moved to New York seven years ago with her ex-husband and daughter, and after their amicable divorce, she began a relationship with Taveras.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
According to Lisa and Shannon Morgan, Denise had been subjected to years of coercive abuse by Taveras. Lisa had witnessed some of the abuse during a visit to New York two years ago, and it had escalated to physical violence in recent months. The family shared text messages from Denise in the weeks leading up to her death, in which she described being strangled and threatened with a knife.
The sisters expressed their feelings of helplessness when speaking to Denise, knowing that she was in a dangerous situation. “That’s the guilt that’s going to live with us forever, knowing what could have been,” Shannon said. Denise had planned to move into a new apartment just 10 days after she was killed, having ended her relationship with Taveras.
In their efforts to raise awareness, the sisters emphasized the importance of not hiding anything from family and friends and recognizing early warning signs of abuse. “Walk when you see the red flags,” Shannon urged. The sisters are still in shock and struggling to come to terms with Denise’s death, but they hope that by sharing their story, they can prevent others from experiencing the same tragedy.
If you or someone you know has been affected by domestic violence, you can seek help through the BBC Action Line.
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
