Jean Schumacher, the 71-year-old Bellevue woman who was murdered by her husband, reflects an increase of domestic violence, according to Eastside Domestic Violence Program.

James W. Schumacher, 71, has ben charged with Murder in the First Degree for killing his wife with a hatchet last in Bellevue.The couple earlier had had an argument and she threatened to divorce him. Schumacher told police he was tired of his wife’s verbal abuse.

The Schumachers had a history of violence, “yet nothing extensive,” according to police spokesperson Carla Iafrate.

While, Barbara Langdon, Executive Director of Eastside Domestic Violence Program did not want to comment on the specific case, she said murders between partners are typically linked with a history of domestic violence.

In these cases, men often threaten to kill their girlfriend or wife if she says she wants out of the relationship. Men can become abusers when they start to feel like they are no longer in control, she said.

Even though these relationships may be horrible, women often feel like they don’t have other options.

Police also have been seeing more domestic violence cases linked to the economic downturn.

An estimated 40 percent of women in King County – or more – are victims of abuse between an intimate partner according to a 2009 study by Group Health, and 755 people died as a result of domestic violence between 1997 and 2010, according to the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that intimate partner violence results in 1,200 deaths and more than 2 million injuries each year.

Langdon said people often think of domestic violence as being designated to a specific area, age group or demographic.

In reality, the oldest EDVP client has been 80-year-old. She also pointed to Melissa Batten, a Harvard-educated Microsoft employee who was murdered by her estranged husband.

“It has nothing to do with your income or where you live,” Langdon said.

If you, or someone you know has questions about domestic violence or needs help, call EDVP’s 24 hour crisis line, 425-746-1940 or 1-800-827-8840.