Governor dedicates victim safe house

KINGMAN - A safe haven for victims of rape, domestic violence and child abuse was formally dedicated Thursday by the state's top elected official.

The grand opening of Sarah's House was feted by dignitaries from throughout Mohave County and Gov. Janet Napolitano.

“It's important to provide a safe spot for victims,” Napolitano said. “We have increased money for shelter beds and the goal is, within the next three years, no woman or child in need is ever turned away for lack of a bed.”

Sarah's House offers victims forensic and medical examination rooms in a more comfortable setting than a police station or hospital. It took seven years and $500,000 to construct the new building on Airway Avenue, next to the Kathryn Heidenreich Senior Center.

A local artist donated interior artwork done in soft, soothing colors. Arizona State Prison-Kingman in nearby Yucca provided manual labor.

“They built our shed, did the landscaping, built the wall and helped us move,” said Sarah's House director Sheila King. “The warden of the prison is on our board, and she could not have been more helpful to us.”

The furnishings in each of the rooms in the two-story home were sponsored by local businesses, allowing the money the organization raises to go to victims' assistance.

And the mission now has expanded to all victims, not just those of sexual assaults or abuse. In the past two weeks, personnel at Sarah's House have helped the family members of five suicides and the death of one baby from sudden infant death syndrome.

‘The name Sarah has become symbolic for all victims,” said deputy Mohave County Attorney and Sarah's House founding board member Bill Ekstrom.

Napolitano said Sarah's House was the type of facility she envisioned when she created the first Office of Victims' Rights.

“We try to meet the needs of victims as best we can. Sarah's House represents the best of those efforts,” Napolitano said. “This is a warm and caring place and those that need help can find it right here.”

Sarah's House is named for a 10-month-old girl who was killed by John Lee DeBarge Sr. He was convicted of murder in 1991 and sentenced to life in prison.

Following the trial, the county attorney's office and many local law enforcement and judicial officials assisted with time-and-money donations, creating the victim's assistance facility named after the baby.

The county also helps fund Sarah's House support personnel salaries and donated the land on which the new home is located.

In 2001, a Federal Appeals Court judge overturned DeBarge's conviction on the grounds that he received inadequate defense counsel. Because of the county attorneys' and judges' involvement in Sarah's House, Coconino County Superior Court Judge Fred Newton will hear the case and the Arizona Attorney General's Office has agreed to handle the prosecution.

Mohave County remains responsible for all court costs, including payment for expert witnesses.

No timeline has been given on when the ruling is expected to be handed down.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.

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