A 47-year-old mother from Cortlandville, NY, she attempted to leave her abusive husband and asked for a divorce. Despite obtaining an order of protection and supervision by friends and family, she lived in constant terror. She was found dead in their home on Memorial Day 2008.

More than a thousand women die of domestic violence each year. In fact, U.S. statistics show that a woman is battered every 15 seconds.

Randy Thibeault was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. One year after Wendy’s death, her family talks about the tragedy and urges the public to speak out about domestic violence.