OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - After Erica Owen was killed in her home last summer, and a man she had a protective order against was charged with murder in her death, Owen’s family wanted to do something to keep her memory alive and to encourage victims of domestic violence to escape from abusers.
Martina Billings, Owen’s aunt, came up with the idea of placing purple plastic benches around town in her memory. Purple was chosen because the color is a “symbol of courage, survival, honor and dedication to ending domestic violence,” according to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.
“I just wanted to do something,” Billings said. “I was praying for two benches.”
Last Wednesday, Owen’s family began placing the nine plastic benches at a number of locations, including the RiverPark Center, OASIS Domestic Violence Shelter, a local hotel and at the schools where Owen had been a student or had worked while obtaining her nursing degree. Other benches were delivered but have not yet been installed to other places, and the family has collected enough plastic to have several more built.
“Erica was absolutely the most quirky, put-together girl that I knew,” Billings said. “The way I describe her to people is she could put on a dress, a pair of muck boots and pearls and pull it off.
“The world is definitely a darker place without her being able to touch lives through nursing, and just being her,” Billings said.
Owen’s family collected plastic for the benches through bottle cap donations. Lisa Greer, Owen’s mother, said each bench requires about 200 pounds of plastic.
“We had no idea what to expect,” Greer said. “We were totally overwhelmed at the number of donations.”
The benches cost about $300 each to make, which is about half the normal cost because the plastic was donated. The benches were made by Green Tree Plastics, an Evansville company that makes items entirely from recycled plastic.
The family held a brief remembrance at OASIS on Wednesday morning at the garden spot where shelter officials installed one of the purple benches in Owen’s honor. Owen’s father, Maurice Owen, said the benches are a reminder “for everyone to take a stand against domestic violence.”
Owen said he hopes when people see the purple benches, “they are reminded domestic violence is real.”
More benches are planned.
“In another two to three months, we’ll have another 10,” Greer said.
Andrea Robinson, executive director of OASIS, said the shelter wanted one of the benches to honor Erica Owen, and the benches should remind people “that domestic violence happens to anybody.”
“It sees no color, age or economic background,” Robinson said. “Domestic violence affects everyone.” The benches will hopefully be a reminder that resources are available to people victimized by domestic violence, including shelter, help and support, she said.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an issue of not knowing where to get help. The biggest issue is fear,” Robinson said.
The “level of control victims experience” can be frightening and difficult to break away from, she said.
Greer said placing the benches around town Wednesday was partly about “giving people the courage to come forward” and flee domestic violence situations.
“It’s bittersweet, I guess I’d say,” Greer said. “… It’s a reminder she’s not here, but it’s a way to make sure she is never forgotten.”
Matthew A. Adams, 27, of Utica is charged with murder (domestic violence), first-degree burglary, tampering with evidence and violation of a domestic violence order in Owen’s death. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Adams and the trial is currently set for next year.
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