Tulsa County D.A. Hopes To Bring Down Domestic Violence Numbers

Spurned advances were the motive behind this weekend's murder at an east Tulsa Papa John's.

Tulsa has seen a string of such cases during this domestic violence prevention month, and now Tulsa County's district attorney is teaming up with Verizon to try to make a difference.

District Attorney Tim Harris said he is tired of trying domestic abuse cases and he is challenging the public to donate an old cell phone. That old phone may be a lifesaver for a victim.

10/6/2014 Related Story: Papa John's Murder Suspect Found Dead Of Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

The program is called D.A.s Against D.V.; it is an appeal to the public to donate old cell phones so District Attorneys Against Domestic Violence can connect victims to help.

"And once people make a decision to break out of that they need housing, they need jobs, they need clothing, they need food and they need a place to live and they need communication,” Harris said.

Experts said a cell phone can be a survival tool.

"The first thing abusers might try to do is cut a victim from their family and they might take their phone away and so programs like Verizon's HopeLine are very important,” said Rachel Weaver with DVIS.

DVIS provides that support for victims, but counselors say victims are sometimes too afraid to reach out for help.

The D.A. will place collection boxes on the 8th and 9th floor of the courthouse.

Verizon wipes the used cell phones data and donates them to organizations like DVIS who provide them to victims.

"This is a safety line that the abuser doesn't know that they have, so if they are in danger they can contact DVIS, or the police or whoever they need to talk to,” said Weaver.

Oklahoma is ranked third in the nation in the number of women murdered by a male partner. It's a statistic the D.A. is working to change, starting with cell phone collection and court hearings.

"We in Tulsa County along with the district court system are going to kick off very soon an accelerated court where those that have a criminal case pending and also a protective order can be heard by one judge,” Harris said.

Verizon pays the victims' cell bills.

If you'd like to help, you can drop off the cell phone at the courthouse or at DVIS.

You can also mail your phone to 4300 South Harvard, Tulsa Ok, 74135.