Violence Free Iowa has released its report on domestic violence-related deaths in Iowa during the 2025 fiscal year, covering October 2024 through September 2025.
According to spokesperson Ruxandra Marcu, at least 28 Iowans died as a result of domestic violence during that period. The report found that 86% of the deaths occurred in a victim’s home.
Marcu said five of the victims were children younger than five years old, highlighting the impact domestic violence can have on young children as well as adults.
The report also found that 23 children lost a parent to a domestic violence-related homicide. Eight of those children lost both parents in murder-suicide incidents.
Of the victims identified in the report, 13 were women, and Marcu said all 13 were killed by men they knew, including current or former partners or family members. The report also identified 15 male victims, with more than half killed by men.
Marcu said all five murder-suicide incidents involved male perpetrators and firearms. Overall, firearms were used in 46% of the domestic violence-related homicides reported for the fiscal year.
She said the findings highlight the importance of education about healthy relationships, emotional regulation and nonviolent communication.
Violence Free Iowa, formerly known as the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, took over responsibility for reporting domestic violence-related deaths in 2025. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office previously published information on domestic violence-related homicides from 1995 through 2021.
The report documents deaths associated with domestic violence and provides information about the circumstances surrounding those incidents.
Source: Violence Free Iowa, with statements from spokesperson Ruxandra Marcu. Figures reflect the fiscal year from October 2024 through September 2025.
