‘It’s absolutely terrifying’: Seward homicide puts spotlight on domestic violence

SEWARD, Neb. (KLKN) – After a weekend homicide in Seward, Friendship Home of Lincoln is calling attention to a startling increase in domestic violence.

Over the past few years, Friendship Home has been helping more and more victims of domestic violence, according to development director Dani Jurgens.

She said the shelter has also seen a noticeable increase in reports of death threats, strangulations and stalking.

Those threats became real for one woman in Seward over the weekend.

Authorities said Jamie Hagen, 36, was shot and killed by her 54-year-old ex-boyfriend, Casey Kindt.

Hagen had a protection order against Kindt.

But late Saturday night, the Nebraska State Patrol said Kindt went to her home, shot and killed Hagen, and then shot himself.

He is in critical condition at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Jurgens said the homicide is weighing on the minds of many in the Lincoln area.

“It’s absolutely terrifying,” she said. “It’s disheartening to those that are working here, to the people that we’re serving.”

She said situations like this can have a ripple effect.

“Seward’s not too far away,” Jurgens said. “And while we know the threat is always there, it leaves even more of that concern in their brains, in their heads of, ‘What if this is me?'”

She said victims are at the highest risk when they’re preparing to leave a violent situation.

For many people, she said it’s difficult to make the decision to leave or tell someone about the abuse.

“If you’re somebody, and a loved one is coming to you and talking to you about domestic violence, the No. 1 thing I can say is, ‘Listen to them and believe them,'” Jurgens said.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you can call the Friendship Home Crisis Line at 402-437-9302.

It is available 24/7, and you can remain anonymous.

Voices of Hope and Hope Crisis Center also provide services for domestic violence victims in southeast Nebraska.

For more resources, visit the website of the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.