Sapulpa Domestic Violence Victim Tells Story Of Survival

A Sapulpa woman is fighting back against domestic violence. Susan Jones was nearly beaten to death earlier this year.

Now she's going public and hoping her story helps other women leave abusive relationships.

"He got mad and pulled a 12-gauge on me; we fought over that and then he began beating me with his fists and strangling me," said Susan Jones.

Susan Jones never thought she'd become another face of domestic violence.

"My kids have lost their dad, grandkids have lost their grandpa," she said.

According to court documents, Jones' husband, David Jones, attacked her last January. Her face was swollen and his hands left bruises on her neck where he tried to strangle her.

"While he was strangling me I was thinking about my little grandkids and my children - thinking I was taking my last breath," she said.

David Jones is now in the Creek County jail waiting trial on domestic violence.

Dan Bewley, News On 6: "How did you survive?"
Susan Jones, Domestic Violence Victim: "God's help."

Jones recently decided to take her story public. She started a Facebook page and wants to encourage other men and women to get out of violent relationships.

"I'm hoping it'll save somebody's life. Hopefully, it will help another family from being torn apart," Jones said.

Donna Mathews is the associate director of Domestic Violence Intervention Services, or DVIS.

"So we have a high rate of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Oklahoma," said Donna Mathews, DVIS.

Mathews says more than one-third of women in the United States, that's 42 million people, were attacked by an intimate partner last year.

In Tulsa, DVIS had 591 women and children stay in their emergency shelter while they counseled more than 1,600 adult survivors of domestic violence. Mathews says, as hard as it is, victims of abuse must find the strength to leave the relationship.

"Sometimes what I say to people is, 'The last time you tried to change jobs, the day that you decided is that the day you left? No. You made a plan, you looked around to see what your options were so that you would know how you were going to take care of yourself and your family.'"

Jones agrees and says she's doing much better now thanks to a strong support system.

"I just got good friends, good support, so I just don't think about it too much," said Susan Jones, domestic violence victim.

DVIS says it's very important to have a plan when you leave and they can help. Call their 24-hour crisis line at 918-7-HELP-ME.

See Susan's Facebook page