The Silent Witness Project

HISTORY OF THE SILENT WITNESS PROJECT

The Silent Witness Project is Texas A&M University's traveling memorial to victims of dating and domestic violence. The Offices of the Dean of Student Life has hosted this exhibit since 2004 in order to increase awareness and education about how these issues impact our state and local communities.

The Silent Witness exhibit contains 10 red, life-sized silhouettes, each representing a victim who lost their life through an act of dating or domestic violence. Each silhouette includes a shield with a summary about the victim.

Texas A&M's Silent Witness Project is part of the Silent Witness National Initiative, whose goal is to eliminate domestic violence-related homicides in the United States. Find out more about the National Initiative.

WHY IS THE SILENT WITNESS PROJECT NECESSARY?

Each October, the Texas Council on Family Violence publishes a fatality review that lists the number of individuals who were murdered by their partners in Texas during the previous year. The 2018 report includes women killed by their male intimate partners; men killed by their female partners; and men and women killed by same-sex partners.

In 2017, 211 Texans were killed by intimate partners: 174 women by their male intimate partners, 32 men by their female intimate partners, and 1 woman and 4 men were killed by same-sex partners. Of these 211 victims, 2 were from counties in the Brazos Valley.

We sincerely feel that the Silent Witness Project is a powerful means by which to educate our entire Texas A&M community about dating and domestic violence, and to motivate others to take action to reduce the number of individuals who are impacted by these crimes in Texas and the United States.

The office of Health Promotion has primary responsibility on the Texas A&M campus to educate students, faculty, and staff about interpersonal violence prevention and harm-reduction. The following opportunities are available to help our campus become more knowledgeable and active in these prevention efforts:

Green Dot Bystander Intervention: This training uses a national, evidence-based curriculum to teach Aggies how to safely and effectively stop acts of violence before they have a chance to occur. Learn more about Green Dot and training registration.
STAND Up: This workshop teaches Aggies how to provide meaningful, trauma-informed support to survivors of interpersonal violence. Learn more about STAND Up and workshop registration.
Health Promotion Standard and Custom Presentations: Upon request, Health Promotion can provide presentations on a variety of wellness topics for student organizations, classrooms, residence halls, and other groups of interested students. Learn more about how to request a presentation from Health Promotion.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE SILENT WITNESS PROJECT?

We invite Texas A&M colleges and departments to arrange for a Silent Witness exhibit. Please use the form below to request the Silent Witness Project, and help us bring awareness to the issues of dating and domestic violence.

Silent Witness Project Display Request

Purpose of the Silent Witness Project

The exhibit is a visual representation consisting of life-sized, red laminated silhouette's of the college aged individuals murdered in acts of dating violence & domestic violence from Texas A&M University and the greater Texas community. The goal of each exhibit is to create an engaging display that will rally community support to grieve the losses of human life, create awareness and education materials and programs by collaborating with concerned and passionate members of your local community.

Terms of Checkout

The display can be checked out to Texas A&M Community Members who have:
- Control of space or can manage necessary permissions for space intended
- Ability to take responsibility for damage, loss, or stolen replacement cost
- Authority to use as programming/tabling/display
- Opportunity to use publicly and can manage traffic flow
- Appropriate equipment for transportation
- When not in use (after hours, close of office), store in a safe, secured area.
- The display can only be exhibited on the Texas A&M University campus. Exemptions to this policy will be examined on a case-by-case basis by the Health Promotion office.
Reservations
Reservations are made by filling out the form below. If you have any questions, please contact Health Promotion by emailing healthpromotion@tamu.edu or calling 979.845.0280. After reserving the Silent Witness Project, a staff member from our office will reach out to you about setting up a time for delivery and pick-up.

Damaged, Lost, or Stolen Materials
Borrowers will be responsible for the safe caretaking of the Silent Witness Project, their protective coverings, and the exhibit banner/educational materials. Damage to the Silent Witness Project including scratches, dents, scuffs, and other minor damage will be your responsibility to replace at the quoted cost from our distributor.

Requestor Information

Name *

First Last

UIN *

Phone Number *

Email Address *

Name of Texas A&M College or Department *

How did you hear about the Silent Witness Project? *

Display Request, Month Long Exhibit

Aside from special events, we schedule the Silent Witness Project to be displayed in a college or department for an entire calendar month. Please select your preferred month to host this exhibit.

Month

Year

If the Silent Witness Project is already being used by another college or department during your preferred month, please select an alternate month to host this exhibit.

Month

Year

Where will the exhibit be displayed in your college or department?

Display Request, Special Event

Please complete the information below if you are requesting the presence of the Silent Witness Project for a special event (e.g. Silver Taps, candlelight vigils, domestic violence prevention programs, etc.).

Name of event

Event date

Event start time

Event end time

Location of event: please provide the physical address, building name, and room location within the building

Please read before submitting

Please make sure that all required fields on this webform have been filled out. If a required field is not completed, your request will not be submitted and you will be taken back to the request page to fill in the missing information. If you have completed all required fields, you will be taken to a confirmation page after you hit submit.

By agreeing to host the Silent Witness Project, you also agree to keep all of the Silent Witnesses and related educational materials free from damage or loss. Should any of the materials get damaged or go missing, your college or department will be monetarily responsible for replacing those materials.

Jacqueline Roquemore

Age 18
Texas A&M, Class of 2006
College Station, TX | December 28, 2002

Jacqueline was a first year Aggie education major, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend.

Her ex-boyfriend drove to see her at her College Station apartment. She was not there, so he waited overnight until she arrived the next day. He argued with her in the parking lot and shot her in the chest before turning the gun on himself.

^{Source: Texas Council on Family Violence, Honoring Texas Victims 2002 Report}

Tynesha Stewart

Age 19
Texas A&M, Class of 2010
Houston, TX | March 15, 2007

Tynesha was a freshman Aggie engineering student who was killed by her ex-boyfriend when she went home for spring break.

It is believed that her ex-boyfriend murdered her after she told him that she had begun a new relationship.

Tynesha's murderer confessed to strangling her and trying to dispose of her remains. He has been convicted and sentenced to 99 years in prison.

^{Source: Texas Council on Family Violence, Honoring Texas Victims 2007 Report}

Rachel Joiner

Age 21
Texas A&M, Class of 2010
College Station, TX | March 6, 2009

Rachel was a junior Aggie geology major who was shot and killed by her boyfriend at the home she shared with her brother, Travis.

Rachel was shot multiple times and fought to stay alive until she could tell authorities the name of her attacker, but died later during surgery.

In May 2010, the person who killed Rachel was sentenced to the death penalty.

^{Source: Texas Council on Family Violence, Honoring Texas Victims 2009 Report}

Chrystal Espinosa

Age 29
San Antonio, TX | June 16, 2016

Chrystal Espinosa was stabbed and killed by her boyfriend inside their home. Chrystal’s two sons were present at the time of the murder.

Chrystal’s boyfriend contacted law enforcement and confessed to stabbing her.

Chrystal was six months pregnant at the time of her death. Authorities arrested and charged her boyfriend with capital murder.

Chrystal is survived by her two sons.

^{Source: Texas Council on Family Violence, Honoring Texas Victims 2016 Report}

HEALTH PROMOTION

HISTORY OF THE SILENT WITNESS PROJECT

WHY IS THE SILENT WITNESS PROJECT NECESSARY?

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE SILENT WITNESS PROJECT?

Requestor Information

Display Request, Month Long Exhibit

Display Request, Special Event

Jacqueline Roquemore

Travis Joiner

Maricarmen Quiroz-Octaviano

Tynesha Stewart

Ashley Lenz

Virginia Benefield

Rachel Joiner

Chrystal Espinosa

Stephanie Hope Redmond