HOCKING COUNTY, Ohio — The case of a mother being shot to death by her estranged husband has many in Hocking County asking several questions. Namely, how did this happen when he wasn't supposed to even be around her?
Natalie Nutter’s family members held back tears as they stood in front of county commissioners, asking for them to take action in hopes of preventing another tragedy.
“I'm not here to say it could have been prevented. In my opinion, it may not have been prevented. I don't want this kind of tragedy to happen to someone else,” said David Harris, Natalie Nutter’s cousin.
Emotions are still very raw for the family.
“This is a serious matter — involves many victims here in this county. It needs to be resolved,” Harris said.
The Hocking County Sheriff's Office says before turning a gun on himself, Kevin Nutter killed his estranged wife, Natalie.
Natalie had filed for divorce, and in court records, Natalie says Kevin threatened to kill her. She had a protection order against him.
Natalie's family and the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center met with Hocking County Commissioners. They have questions about how members of the Hocking County Prosecutor's office have handled cases and victims.
“As a statewide organization that is tasked with making sure victim’s rights are protected and enforced, these kinds of things are very troubling to us,” said Elizabeth Well, legal director for Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center.
The Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center is a non-profit that provides free legal representation to victims of crime when their rights are violated. Well says several of the group's clients have said as victims, they were not treated properly by a victim's advocate within the Hocking County Prosecutor's office.
“In one example, telling a victim if she continues to contact the prosecutor's office for updates, she can be prosecuted for telecommunications harassment,” Well said.
They argue the person whose job it is to make sure victims are supported did not live up to all of her responsibilities.
“I think as a victim advocate, whether you agree or disagree with what that victim is telling you, that's not your call. You are there for support of the victim,” Harris said.
In a statement, the Hocking County Prosecutor Ben Fickel said, "I have reviewed all of the information that has been presented to me and made the appropriate changes in the Victim's Services program. I have also reached out to the Ohio Crime Victim's Justice Center to request additional training for all of our advocates. Our office strives to provide assistance to victims above and beyond that required by Marsy's Law, and will continue to emphasize fairness and empathy for our victims.”