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:

 

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.

  • 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

  • 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.
  • 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.

  • 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.).
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  • 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

    Travis Joiner

    Age 23
    Texas A&M, Class of 2009
    College Station, TX | March 6, 2009

    Travis was a senior Aggie aerospace engineering major who was shot and killed by his sister’s boyfriend at the home he shared with his sister, Rachel.

    Travis was shot multiple times and died on arrival at the hospital.

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

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

    Maricarmen Quiroz-Octaviano

    Age 21
    Texas A&M, Class of 2017
    College Station, TX | September 16, 2016

    Maricarmen was a junior Aggie genetics major who was murdered by her boyfriend.

    Police eventually tracked and captured her boyfriend at a residence near Fort Worth, where he confessed to police that he shot Maricarmen several times after an argument that took place in her College Station apartment.

    Source: Texas Council on Family Violence, Honoring Texas Victims 2017 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

    Ashley Lenz

    Age 20
    Bryan, TX | September 24, 2011

    Ashley Lenz was shot and killed by her boyfriend in his home. He then turn the gun on himself, dying by suicide.

    Family members reported that her boyfriend had difficulty expressing his anger, and could be possessive, controlling and jealous.

    Source: Texas Council on Family Violence, Honoring Texas Victims 2011 Report

    Virginia Benefield

    Age 46
    Bryan, TX | January 18, 2018

    Virginia Benefield died in the home she shared with her husband after he shot and killed her. Her husband also shot and killed their neighbor, Larry Darnell Davis, 65, and then turned the firearm on himself, dying by suicide.

    Authorities discovered the deceased after a co-worker requested a welfare check when one of them did not show up to work.

    Source: Texas Council on Family Violence, Honoring Texas Victims 2018 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

    Stephanie Hope Redmond

    Age 48
    Normangee, TX | January 23, 2018

    Stephanie Redmond died in her home when her husband shot and killed her. He then shot and killed himself.

    A concerned family member asked a neighbor to check on them. The neighbor discovered their bodies and alerted police.

    Source: Texas Council on Family Violence, Honoring Texas Victims 2018 Report

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