Ashley Henning
Women's History Month 2025
3/15/20251 min read
Domestic violence or Intimate partner violence is severely under-reported... but not all secrets can be kept.
In the United States on average more than 3 women are killed every day by their partners.
Nearly 85% of domestic violence victims are women.
(Stats from Emory University School of Medicine)
Ashley Henning had a brilliant smile, a contagious laugh and enthusiasm for life. She knew how to have an adventure. She was tough, too. Throughout her military career she worked her way up to Sgt. First Class- a rank reflective of her dedication and leadership strength. She was a mom, with kids who loved her.
And none of who and what she was protected her the night her husband shot and killed her in their home.
Her murder happened a couple years ago, in 2023, on her birthday. Some friends stopped by to celebrate her, and after things wound down her husband, a man who'd made vows to her, chased her up the stairs and shot her five times- ultimately ending her life with her children in the home.
This week his trial started and you can watch it on Court TV...
I don't know how her story will end. I do know her story is an agonizing reminder that domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. It happens to the strongest, the kindest, the most capable women. And still, the justice system too often fails to hold abusers accountable. The possibility that he could walk free is infuriating, heartbreaking, and so painfully unfair.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential support 24/7. Call 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org to chat with an advocate.