Support group for loved ones of homicide victims to hold its first meeting

A support and advocacy group for loved ones of homicide victims in Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri will have its first meeting at 3 p.m. Aug. 14 at First Baptist Church of Thebes in Thebes, Illinois.

Debra Goins, a founding member of the group, said she saw a need for help and support while processing the murder of her brother in 2019. She is still struggling with the loss, she said. Goins said there was a gap in support for those close to homicide victims and after getting into the right mental health space, she decided to fill that gap.

"It will give us an opportunity to talk to one another about what we're experiencing and how we're dealing with our losses," Goins said.

Members of the group will be expected to maintain confidentiality, Goins said, and she has already had several families express interest in attending.

"We describe ourselves as co-victims due to the extreme emotional impact of this type of loss upon our entire lives," Goins said. "It is so stressful and only someone who has experienced such a loss could fully understand."

In addition to peer-to-peer support, the group will also advocate for justice for victim's families and resources from authorities to investigate and solve cases.