Oregon man shoots wife after hiding in her car

[Nut44x4]

Oregon man shoots wife after hiding in her car

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2009 at 1:43 PM MST


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A woman is struggling for life at Portland's Legacy Emanuel Hospital after her husband shot her in the back, authorities said Wednesday.

They say the southwest Oregon man hid in the back seat of his estranged wife's car while she met with a divorce attorney, and shot her when she settled back into the car.

The woman, 22-year-old Ashley Kendall, was transferred from a southwest Oregon hospital to Portland's Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Frasier described Kendall's condition as "extremely" critical, saying the bullet entered her upper back and exited her chest. Hospital spokeswoman Amber Shoebridge declined comment.

Her estranged husband, 26-year-old Travis Kendall of Myrtle Point, has killed himself after a confrontation with Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels, said Coos County District Attorney R. Paul Frasier.

The shooting is the latest in a string of murder-suicide attempts in Oregon this month. Three have occurred in the Portland area, including one in which a man burst into his estranged wife's workplace and opened fire, killing his wife and himself while wounding two others.

Ashley Kendall's shooting was reported by her sister, who told police she was on the phone with her when she heard screams that "he" was in the car. The call ended abruptly.

Investigators believe Travis Kendall drove to the attorney's office in Coos Bay and hid in his wife's car while she was in the office, only presenting himself when she started to drive. The wounded woman's body was found on a street.

The shooting ignited an immediate search for Kendall and the missing vehicle. Dannels spotted the car late Tuesday and gave chase until it reached Kendall's home. Dannels fired shots during the ensuing confrontation, with one them hitting Kendall in the leg. Kendall, according to Frasier, then ducked around the corner of the house and shot himself in the head. An autopsy will be performed.

Records show Travis Kendall was jailed on a domestic abuse charge in October. He was ordered not to have contact with Ashley following his conditional release. The Department of Human Services took custody of their one child last month because of the home situation.

http://www.2news.tv/news/70395607.html

[Nut44x4]

Since this thread is in regards to an incident in Oregon, I'll post this here.

Domestic violence: the lessons of nine lives in two weeks

By Guest Columnist
November 20, 2009, 3:00PM

On Nov. 5, Tameka Medina and her 4-year-old son were found shot to death in the home they once shared with Ceantwaun Barr. Police believe that Barr shot Medina and their son before killing himself.

Five days later, Teresa Beiser was shot and killed by her recently estranged husband at the Tualatin drug testing lab where she worked. Two of Teresa's co-workers were also injured. Afterward, Robert Beiser killed himself, leaving the couple's two children orphaned.

And a day later, we learned that Varsha Suthar, Mukesh Suthar and their 9-year-old son were found shot to death in their home in an apparent murder-suicide.

And before we could catch our breath, another violent attempted murder, and a suicide, occurred in Coos County.

Nine lives lost in less than two weeks -- all related to domestic violence.

Could anything have been done to prevent these tragic deaths? We may never know the answer to that question, but the tragedies highlight the critical need to fully fund Oregon's emergency shelter and specialized victim advocacy services.

Domestic and sexual violence are widespread problems throughout Oregon. The statistics are staggering: 18 to 27 Oregonians are killed each year as a result of domestic violence; one in 10 Oregon women has been physically or sexually assaulted in the last five years; more than one third of domestic violence assaults are witnessed by children; and one in six Oregon women has survived forcible rape in her lifetime.

Oregon has a strong network of domestic and sexual violence programs that help victims find safety and rebuild their lives, and the lives of their children. These programs provide essential services that are often life-saving. Victims who access these services are 60 percent less likely than are other victims to be assaulted again in the next year.

Unfortunately, Oregon's emergency shelter and specialized advocacy services are funded at about half of what's needed to provide core safety. And this can have severe implications.

Leaving a violent relationship is an extraordinarily dangerous point in time for a victim. But it's also the time when victims may not be able to get help. In 2008, domestic violence programs were unable to accommodate more than 19,000 requests for emergency shelter by victims in Oregon; 48 percent of those victims had children with them. At current funding levels, shelter workers in Multnomah County have sometimes been forced to advise victims to consider riding a MAX train all night or to sleep at the airport. In rural areas, sleeping in a car or out in the woods is sometimes a victim's only alternative.

As the recent tragic news illustrates, domestic violence also impacts the workplace. In 2000, homicide was the second leading cause of women's death on the job. Adopting strategies that ensure the safety of victims and their co-workers at the workplace is vital.

Agencies and businesses throughout Oregon are implementing workplace-violence policies and providing training for managers and employees on domestic in the workplace. For example, in 2007, Gov. Ted Kulongoski required all state agencies to implement such policies, and since then nearly 5,000 state managers and human resources employees have been trained. These efforts can serve as important models for all Oregon employers.

But more work remains. Victims must have access to help when they need it most. As this budget crisis persists, we must not lose track of our responsibility to provide basic safety services for vulnerable victims, to ensure safety at home and at work.

Sybil Hebb is an attorney with the Oregon Law Center.
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/11/domestic_violence_the_lessons.html

[hinman]

22 is so young. I just hate to hear about domestic violence when these girls are so young.
Great article thanks for sharing,.

[Jute]

Saturday, November 21, 2009
Press Re;ease from the Family of Ashley and Theren Kendall
PRESS RELEASE

November 21, 2009

The immediate family of 22 year old domestic violence victim Ashley (Berning) Kendall has issued a statement, and friends of the family have set up a benefit fund to assist Ashley and her 5 month old son Theren.

Ashley Kendall was shot in the back by her husband Travis Kendall on the evening of Tuesday, November 17th after she met with her lawyer to discuss an upcoming child custody hearing and divorce proceedings, according to R. Paul Frasier, Coos County, Oregon district attorney.

Authorities say Travis Kendall gained access into her parked car, a Jeep Cherokee, and hid in the very rear compartment awaiting her return. Ashley, after leaving her attorneys office, got in her car and was unaware that Travis was hiding in the rear. She drove off and was shortly thereafter shot by her estranged husband, who pushed her out on to the street, and then left the scene in her car.

Police say Travis Kendall was later spotted by police, and lead them on a 100 mph high-speed chase ending at his home in Myrtle Point, Oregon. Kendall pointed a gun at the officer, which forced the officer to fire wounding him in the leg. He ducked around the corner of a building and was later found dead of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head.

STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY OF ASHLEY (BERNING) KENDALL:

We would like to take the time to thank everyone who has been so supportive through this tragic event.

We respectfully ask for privacy at this time, and do not want to comment on the specifics of this incident.

Ashley Kendall is fighting for her life and remains in extreme critical condition at the ICU Trauma Unit at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon.

We are so grateful for the wonderful doctors, nurses, and hospital staff that are providing superb around the clock care for our daughter. She has undergone numerous surgeries, and her future is still on a guardedly optimistic, day-by-day hopeful basis. We would also like to say a special thank to her attorney Sharon Mitchell, concerned citizen Greg Brecheisen who came upon the scene, E.M.T.’S, Dr. Tersigni and his medical staff, and all the countless people who got her here alive. We also want to thank God who has graciously carried her in his arms. We will be forever grateful.

Thankfully, due to the ongoing threats, Ashley’s five-month old son Theren had been taken into protective custody the previous day of this incident by the Oregon Department of Human Services, and thus was unharmed. He has since been returned to the custody of Ashley’s immediate family.

Thank you for your compassion and understanding, and for keeping Ashley, Theren and all of our family in your prayers.


Sincerely,

The Family of Ashley and Theren Kendall

Friends of the family have set up a fund to provide financial help dedicated solely to assist Ashley and Theren. You may contribute to the “Ashley Kendall” Donation Fund at any U.S. Bank branch and request your donation be credited to this account.

http://domesticviolencenews.blogspot.com/2009/11/press-reease-from-family-of-ashley-and.html