HOUSTON – Deadly domestic violence incidents witnessed by children are becoming alarmingly common in the Houston area, with multiple cases involving fatalities or severe injuries over recent months.
Recent cases span neighborhoods from The Heights, East Houston, Seabrook, Deer Park, and north Harris County, many unfolding in the presence of children or while they were nearby.
In a recent case in north Harris County, Marisol Zamora is charged with murdering her husband, Miguel Zamora-Martinez, over the weekend. The couple’s three children were reportedly at home at the time of the incident. Though it’s unclear if they directly witnessed the shooting, investigators say the children were exposed to the aftermath, an experience experts say can lead to lasting trauma.
READ: Houston mother charged with murder after children hear gunshots, see her near father’s body
In court, prosecutors shared details of the shooting, revealing that Zamora initially claimed self-defense but later offered differing accounts to law enforcement. Court records indicate her teenage children reported hearing gunshots and seeing Zamora standing with a gun near her husband’s body. Zamora’s defense team, however, described the incident as a tragic accident, with no one directly witnessing an argument or the shooting itself.
BACKGROUND: Woman in custody after shooting, killing husband, HCSO said
Defense claims suggest that one child mentioned the gun had jammed or malfunctioned during the incident.
Zamora is currently being held in Harris County Jail on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Domestic violence statistics in Houston
Domestic violence has impacted Houston severely this year.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, 23 out of 83 county murders have been linked to domestic violence.
In Houston city limits, 48 of 215 murders between January and August involved domestic violence, marking a 2% increase over 2023.
Licensed Psychologist Dr. Staci Passe emphasized to KPRC 2′s Corley Peel the traumatic impact that witnessing domestic violence can have on children, even those as young as three or four years old.
“The trauma and terror of witnessing violence, especially a murder, can stay with children through their entire childhood and into young adulthood,” she said.
Dr. Passe advised that anyone in regular contact with children in unstable home environments should remain vigilant, watching for signs of distress or changes in behavior.
“If a child is living in a home with domestic violence, those around them need to observe and ask questions,” Passe noted. “Even simple conversations about home life might reveal warning signs worth investigating.”
KPRC 2 wants you to know that resources are is available to help you leave these situations before it’s too late.
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