Domestic violence deaths are up in Colorado. More offenders died than victims.
The number of deaths stemming from domestic violence in Colorado has held steady over the past five years, with a slight uptick in both fatalities and cases reported in 2025, according to a report released Wednesday by Attorney General Phil Weiser’s office.
That finding comes as homicides across the state were down last year, falling 16.8% from 2024, according to data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
In 2025, 78 people died in a total of 57 domestic violence cases, compared with 72 people killed in 54 cases in 2024, the report shows. The Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board compiles the report each year to help identify trends from data tracking domestic violence deaths. The board also develops measures to help prevent domestic violence incidents and deaths and gives policy recommendations to the legislature,
Domestic violence is a form of violence that “cuts across all walks of life,” victimizing both men and women as well as people who identify as transgender and people of all ages and income levels, said Sarah Marx Poulain, CEO of the nonprofit SafeHouse Denver.
“All kinds of people experience intimate partner and domestic violence, whether it’s physical, emotional, financial … there are so many ways it can show up,” Marx Poulain said.
“It touches everyone, and that’s why I think it’s so insidious and so hard to shift,” she added.
Her organization runs a shelter with 34 beds at a confidential location for survivors who need an immediate place to land. There, survivors get a clean space to restart, food, and support as they figure out their next steps in finding a job or going to school. The nonprofit also offers a 24-hour crisis line to connect people facing domestic violence with resources, form a safety plan over the phone or help them calm down after traumatic situations.
Additionally, SafeHouse Denver directs those who may not be a good fit for a shelter to its counseling and advocacy center, where they can learn about the power dynamics of domestic violence, receive counseling as they plan their future and connect with a case manager, job training or help with food.
“They’re people doing their best every day,” Marx Poulain said. “They’re people who have been in really hard situations who are figuring out where they’re going, and we thankfully get to be present to support them in whatever that looks like.”
High stress levels may have caused more deaths among offenders
The consistency in deaths related to domestic violence saddens Marx Poulain and also leaves her perplexed. A convergence of factors have sustained numbers of cases and fatalities, she said, including a shortage of community resources to meet the needs of every survivor who needs support. The scramble to help survivors, whether they are still living with their abuser or are ready to move out, has become harder as government funding has dried up.
It’s also become much more of a challenge for survivors to find stable ground after they leave a shelter, Marx Poulain said, pointing to a scarcity of affordable housing and hardship among survivors to come up with a deposit for housing while they also might be looking for work.
Navigating rental rates, housing qualifications and credit scores is especially difficult for survivors trying to turn the page after a period of turbulence, Marx Poulain said.
This year’s report marks the first time the board has counted more deaths among offenders than victims. Among the deaths in 2025 were 38 offenders, 32 victims and eight other victims who may have included family members, friends or others connected to an offender and victim involved in a case of domestic violence.
The deaths of more perpetrators is, in many cases, likely a symptom of escalating stress levels, Marx Poulain said.
“What it says to me is how intense things must be getting for a person to say, ‘I’m just going to take us all out,’” she said, comparing some people’s circumstances to a pressure cooker.
Families are facing all kinds of stress and uncertainty as the cost of living continues to rise and as a tough job market drags on, she said, noting those factors can ratchet up tensions, make day-to-day life feel harder and ultimately lead to more violence.
No children died in any domestic violence cases last year, though kids were in the home in at least 15 cases. In at least seven cases, children witnessed someone get killed, according to the report.
Most of the victims who died were women and most of the offenders were men. In at least 20 cases, records showed “a documented history of domestic violence,” and in a dozen cases, victims had an active protection order.
Of the offenders who died, 28 died by suicide and 18 incidents were murder-suicides.
Firearms have consistently been the leading cause of death in domestic violence cases, the report notes. Last year, guns were used in 82.1% of deaths related to domestic violence, a jump from 75% in 2024.
Marx Poulain said educating communities and law enforcement about the dynamics of power and control behind domestic violence is one promising way to try to prevent more incidents and deaths. It’s also critical to spread awareness about community resources and continue collaborations among community organizations, who can often find a secure place for a survivor if a shelter they try to get into is full.
The review board that pulled together the report is highlighting the need for more funding to both prevent domestic violence and provide victims with support that will keep them safe and keep them moving forward. Among state efforts to protect victims in a new law that, beginning in July, will require police officers to begin using a protocol that will help them identify victims at significant risk of being killed during a domestic violence dispute. Law enforcement must immediately connect those victims with community advocates who can help them develop a safety plan and support them as they make decisions about their future.
“Every life lost to domestic violence is a tragedy, and we owe it to victims and their families to learn from these deaths and prevent future tragedies,” Weiser said in a statement. “We have made important progress, and this report reminds us that we must continue working together to save lives.”
