YWCA issues statement on Gerling incident – ​​Oneida Dispatch

Dianne Stancato, CEO of the YWCA Mohawk Valley, has responded to an Aug. 20 domestic violence incident that ended in the death of Columbus Elementary Principal Elizabeth A. Gerling. The Oneida County District Attorney's Office has charged Gerling's boyfriend, Jeremy J. Kirch, 45, of Camden, with first-degree murder.

“We at YWCA Mohawk Valley are deeply saddened by the news from the Oneida County Sheriff's Office this morning,” Stancato said in a press release. “We join our entire community in mourning the loss of Elizabeth Gerling, an elementary school principal. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

“The Mohawk Valley is a welcoming, close-knit community, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean we don’t experience violence against women,” Stancato continued. “This year alone, as a local domestic and sexual violence provider, we have
“Through its violence crisis services, YWCA MV has served more than 3,000 individual survivors. We see the impact domestic violence can have on our community and are committed to ending the violence.”

YWCA MV offers two 24-hour crisis hotlines and a secure, private web chat that allows survivors to reach our advocates directly. You can find them at ywcamv.org/Chat. Their crisis services are always free, confidential, and available to primary and secondary survivors.

In Oneida County, call or text 315-797-7740 for domestic and sexual violence crisis services.

In Herkimer County, call 315-866-4120 to contact child protective services and adult sexual violence crisis services.

YWCA services include two shelters for victims of domestic violence, transitional housing programs, support groups and individual counseling, as well as advocacy and support during court proceedings, medical treatment and criminal prosecution.

Intimate partner violence is a real and present danger for women around the world. According to a 2023 study published by the National Library of Medicine, nearly half of female homicide victims are killed by a domestic partner.

“Every life lost to domestic violence is a tragedy. Enough is enough,” Stancato said. “Together, we can make the Mohawk Valley a safe and healthy community for women and all survivors. Together, we can raise awareness about the impact of domestic and sexual violence, how to recognize warning signs, and where to find help. Together, we can break the silence and put an end to the violence.”