With domestic violence in Wilmington 'an epidemic issue,' a victim's daughter speaks out
Rachel Knowles' life was forever altered when she tragically lost her mother, MaryAnn Breault, in a domestic violence-related murder-suicide outside a Wilmington tennis club in December of 2021. Equally as devastating is the regularity with which she encounters similar tragedies making headlines.
"I see this story all the time and it's really horrific to see the news, (it's) like the same story over and over again," Knowles said. Domestic violence "is an epidemic issue, not just in Wilmington, but really around the world."
The World Health Organization reports that 27% of women globally between the ages of 15 and 49 who have been in a relationship have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.
Previous coverage: 'Coming together through tragedy': Wilmington tennis community honors woman killed
'She deserved to be heard'
Knowles said she can recount the abuse she witnessed between her stepfather, Dimitre Dimitrov, and her mother as early as the age of eight.
When Knowles moved out of the house later in her life, she started to realize the severity of the situation -- urging her mother to leave the relationship for her own safety and health.
"It took a lot for her to finally say 'you know what, enough is enough,'" Knowles said. "I always call (abuse) a slow boil because you don't really know you're in hot water until it's kind of too late to jump out."
Breault tried to leave her relationship peacefully, Knowles said. She had been looking at apartments and talking to attorneys in the months before her death. When she met up with a police officer for the first time in September of 2020 after feeling unsafe returning home, Breault was confronted by Dimitrov who had been following her location.
"He had been tracking her on her phone...and in her car," Knowles said. "He had cameras all over the house...with audio."
The officer had encouraged Breault to file for a protective order against Dimitrov at the courthouse the following morning. Upon learning about this process, Dimitrov preemptively filed against Breault in retaliation, Knowles said.
This prolonged the court proceedings, a process which lasted several months and kept Breault away from her children without supervised visitation. During discovery, Breault was able to provide significant evidence citing abuse from Dimitrov, Knowles said.
"I think he realized pretty quickly that his case wasn't going to hold up and that he would be forced to face what (he'd been) doing to us all of these years," Knowles said. "I think that's why he decided...to shoot and kill my mother and himself."
Knowles said she hopes sharing her mother's story, along with her own experience as a victim of abuse, will help somebody else.
"I felt in a lot of ways that my mom was silenced," Knowles said. "After everything she went through, she deserved to be heard."
In early March, Knowles worked in collaboration with the Greater Wilmington Tennis Assocation to host the third annual Raise a Racquet Against Domestic Violence charity tennis tournament at Holly Tree Racquet & Swim Club in memory of her mother.
The tennis tournament consists of co-ed teams "coming together for a common cause and benefiting the local domestic violence shelter," Knowles said. Consistently, the event sees a turnout of more than 200 players. The charity tournament raised $19,550 in 2024.
While the annual tournament is held in honor of Breault, Knowles said that its purpose extends far beyond her own personal healing journey.
"It really brings in the community...I hope it brings healing for those that were a part of this tragedy," Knowles said. "I also hope that it brings awareness and education on the prevalence of this issue."
Domestic violence rates in Wilmington
Wilmington continues to witness domestic violence-related tragedy.
In early March, a Murrayville woman was killed in her home. The man arrested in connection with the death, Darius Tyshaun Williams, was charged with first-degree murder. Williams had active warrants for violation of a domestic violence protective order, among other charges, at the time of his arrest.
In September 2023, one Wilmington man died as a result of a domestic dispute which culminated in a shooting. A month later, two juveniles were charged in connection with the death of one teen's relative.
Homicide data provided by the Wilmington Police Department underscores the troubling presence of domestic violence-related tragedy in the local community.
Of the 12 homicides reported by Wilmington police in 2023, six of them were "determined to have a domestic/household violence nexus," according to the Wilmington city clerk. Two of the 12 homicides were deemed "justifiable."
Additionally, Wilmington's Open Gate’s Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc. has seen an increase in domestic violence-related cases.
Open Gate works with 200 individuals each month on average, Mandy Houvouras previously said to the StarNews. Between 2022 and 2023, the shelter experienced a 7% increase in the number of clients they have seen.
Closing the gaps and recognizing key signs
It's crucial to actively address systemic shortcomings and recognize the warning signs of abuse and domestic violence to provide support for victims and survivors.
While Knowles only blames her stepfather for what happened on Dec. 7, 2021, she said "societally, we do have a responsibility to try to see where there might have been some gaps and red flags that were missed."
The potential introduction of weapons into already volatile situations can exacerbate existing violence, Knowles said, referencing the victim information sheet provided by the N.C. Judicial Branch. A section of this form details how victims of domestic violence can apply for a temporary concealed handgun permit.
"No matter what your view on guns is...you don't really want to introduce a gun into a situation where there's going to be high emotions (and) high passions," Knowles said.
The pre-existence of weapons in a home has been shown to increase risk of fatal violence for victims. The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence reports that a woman is five times more likely to be murdered if her abuser has access to a firearm.
"The presence of firearms in the home we know drastically increases risk," Houvouras previously said to the StarNews.
Additionally, Increased awareness about the warning signs of abuse and domestic violence can empower victims to safely leave a dangerous situation.
"If you're in pain, whether its physically or emotionally...that's abuse," Knowles said, adding that abuse can also be verbal, financial and sexual.
"One thing I would say to people experiencing (domestic violence) is just to know that you're not alone...and that there are resources out there for (you,)" Knowles said. "The same thing doesn't have to happen to someone else's mother or sister or friend."
Below is a list of domestic violence shelters and organizations within and surrounding Wilmington:
Open Gate Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc.: 910-343-0703
Operation Pretty Things: 910-399-6992, Operationprettythings@gmail.com
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Wilmington Domestic Violence Detective: 910-772-6944
Wilmington Police Department: Anonymous Tip 411 app
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Domestic violence a major factor in 2023 Wilmington, NC homicides
