Pueblo police investigating 2 domestic violence-related deaths this week

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- This week, Pueblo has been shaken by a pair of domestic violence-related homicides. Greythonia Jackson died on Monday and Nicole Stephenson passed away from her injuries on Wednesday.

According to court documents, both mothers died from beatings at the hands of their significant others.

Stephenson's alleged abuse occurred on Jan. 27. The mother of two was found unconscious in her boyfriend's home on the 2200 block of Norwich Avenue. Doctors told investigators Stephenson was suffering from a severe brain bleed.

Stephenson’s boyfriend, 36-year old Nathan Turner, is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault. Court documents report several prior instances of assault where Stephenson fell victim to Turner's attacks.

The Pueblo County District Attorney's office says the judge initially set steep cash-only bonds for a previous alleged attack -- totaling $200,000 -- with GPS monitoring. However, Turner's family bailed him out not long before he allegedly attacked Stephenson yet again. Turner is currently being held on a $2 million cash-only bond.

“What I have missed the most in these past three and a half weeks is her smile and her laugh,” said Gabrielle Skubal, Stephenson's friend.

The second case occurred Monday; 22-year-old Rashad Jackson is accused of beating his wife, 22-year-old Greythonia Jackson, to death after a series of arguments. Court documents say he then dumped her body in a Bessemer neighborhood alley.

“A lot of people are in this situation and they need to know or be aware of resources and there is some help,” said Sgt. Franklyn Ortega with the Pueblo Police Department.

One of those resources is the YWCA domestic violence services in Pueblo.

“We are a shelter it is one of the duties we perform here," said Maureen White the new Executive Director at the YWCA. "We are a safe shelter for families to come and get some services. These are for victims of violence.”

White says family and friends ought to pay close attention to loved ones they believe may be a victim of abuse and report it. Many victims will justify their abuse and won't seek help for a multitude of reasons.

The shelter's executive director believes these homicides stemming from domestic violence can be avoided with the right resources.

“In some cases, they’ve been knocked down so much emotionally they really believe they deserve what is happening to them," said White. "That process of their self-esteem being so low they just think what’s happening is okay, and that they don’t deserve better; so we do see that as well. Police will come to a scene and they’ll ask 'Do you want us to take you somewhere safe?' They’ll just say no because they really believe this is where they deserve to be.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse you are encouraged to contact your local law enforcement or either of the following:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 https://www.thehotline.org/
Violence Free Colorado: 303-831-9632 / 888-778-7091
https://www.violencefreecolorado.org/contact-us/
YWCA of Pueblo Domestic Violence Services in Pueblo, CO Hotline: 719-545-8195 (24⁄7)
Toll Free Business 719-542-6904 https://www.domesticshelters.org/help/co/pueblo