Police say the shooting in Madison this past weekend began as a domestic dispute between the couple.

Advocates for victims of domestic violence say the shooting highlights the growing numbers of people seeking help.

"He was a chameleon, I guess."

Several years ago, Amanda Soddy believed she'd found a good man.
"I didn't know he had a temper, I didn't know he had anger issues."

Soddy says she moved-in with him, moved to another city... away from her family and friends.

"It made it easier for him to start the physical, verbal abuse."
"He'd say things like you can't keep the house clean... You gain a pound, you're fat."
"Gave me a bloody nose, black eye."
"He'd drag me around by my hair ... rip my clothes off."

But Soddy says one incident changed her life.

"And that's when the police officer told me about Green Haven."

"We're on target to be 75-percent over what we were in 2008."
Alice Franks-Gray is the executive director at Green Haven in Monroe.

"She was absolutely in danger of death, and that is very typical of what we see."

Franks-Gray says the non-profit is seeing more people seeking its support services... such as housing or restraining orders.

She says the economy, for instance the closing of GM, has a ripple effect.

"Because our economy is bad, that creates tension in the household that things can escalate to domestic violence."

But advocates say domestic violence is under-reported.

Franks-Gray wants others to know what's out there for victims...
"Just about anything a person needs to re-establish a home."

Soddy wants others to know they can do it too - escape an abusive relationship ...

"He says it's never going to happen again... I'll get counseling. I've heard it all and it never changed."

...before it claims your life.

"Between Green Have and my family, I don't know what I would've done."

If you're in need of assistance, go to:

http://www.greenhaven4help.com
But advocates also remind victims to use a safe computer, or call the 24 hour crisis line.

Crisis Line 608-325-7711
Toll Free 1-800-836-9788