Family Of Duluth Domestic Homicide Victim Talk Anger, Grief, Hope
Allisa Vollan was 27 years old
DULUTH, Minn. — There is anger and grief from the family of a Duluth woman who has become Minnesota’s sixth homicide victim so far this year by, who authorities call, an intimate partner.
In March, Allisa Vollan, 27, was killed by her boyfriend, Dale Howard, 25, according to the criminal complaint.
Allisa was found dead in Howard’s apartment just nine days after a court order was issued against him to stay away from her. The charge then – domestic assault.
Allisa had gone back to her accused abuser, which experts say is a common occurrence in domestic violence .
On Thursday, Allisa’s aunt, two brothers and other family talked with FOX 21’s Dan Hanger about their anger, love for Allisa and their home to save others facing a deadly relationship by sharing her story.
“She was funny, outgoing, very energetic, fun-loving,” explained Sherri Anderson, Allisa’s aunt. She liked music. She loved hanging out with her family, fashion, makeup.”
“She cared about everybody else before she cared about herself. And that’s probably why this predicament is the way it is. Because she did care so much,” explained Robbie Vollan, Allisa’s stepmother.
The predicament involved sixth-month relationship that went terribly wrong.
“We are all very angry. Angry, just the whole grieving process, but we just couldn’t believe it happened. You know?” Anderson said.
Allisa’s boyfriend at the time, Dale Howard, is accused of her murder and facing charges in St. Louis County. A Domestic Abuse No Contact Order (DANCO) regarding Allisa was issued less than two weeks prior.
“It’s a shock that she was the one that unfortunately had to pay the ultimate price. Yeah, for caring about somebody as much as she did,” explained Robbie Vollan.
Allisa’s two brothers, Matthew Vollan, 22, and Steven Vollan, 14, are trying to process the crime, the loss and the pain.
“It hurts a lot. A lot. It’s it feels painful to feel like this, that someone has to really do this to somebody at all. It’s sickening,” Matthew explained.
“She would always spend time with me. She would try her best to help me with certain things, even if it was hard for both of us,” Steven explained.
Jackie Christiansen, the Community Engagement Coordinator for Safe Haven Shelter & Resource Center, says it’s common for victims to go back to their abusers.
“There’s lots of reasons why. It could be housing, it could be childcare, it could be that feeling of that somebody that they love, right, and that somebody that they care about, and they want to be in that spot. And sometimes it’s genuinely, they feel like there’s no other option,” Christiansen said.
Christiansen says the issue of domestic violence needs to be a community priority, with men joining the conversation.
“There’s a lot of women who are at the front of this movement, and we need more men and boys. And so getting more involved in things as well,” Christiansen said.
It’s a call to action against domestic violence that Allisa’s brothers seem to already understand.
“Please help yourself a little bit more, then help somebody, because this wouldn’t have happened if she’d help herself more and feel better about herself than having to fully fix somebody to an issue,” Matthew said.
“I’ll prove to her that not all men are the same,” Steven said.
The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office found Allisa’s injuries to be “concerning for smothering.”
Allisa’s family plans to start a foundation in her name.
On Saturday, a public celebration of life will be held at the AAD Shrine building in Hermantown beginning at 1 p.m.
If you or someone you know is facing a domestic violence situation, there are free resources available 24 hours a day.
RESOURCES FOR HELP:
Battered Women’s Justice Project
Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project
Communities Against Violence Network
Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse
Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women
Mending the Sacred Hoop Technical Assistance Program
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Power and Control: Domestic Violence in America documentary
SafeHaven Shelter for Battered Women
U.S. D.O.J. Violence Against Women Office
NoMore-Together We Can End Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
If you think you might be abused, know someone being abused, or might be abusing someone, contact the following organizations:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
A nonprofit organization that provides crisis intervention, information and referral to victims of domestic violence, perpetrators, friends and families.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
NCADV’s website offers a list of all state coalitions. Contact your state’s coalition for help finding out about services for victims and abusers in your state and community.
SafeHaven Shelter for Battered Women
Assistance for battered women and their children in Duluth, MN.
The Domestic Abuse Intervention Project
Offers assistance to men who are abusive through men’s nonviolence classes in Duluth, MN.
