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Close to home: Utah crash spurs NH domestic violence survivor to share story
Jo Fonda’s estranged husband crashed plane into Amherst home in 2001
WMUR-TV – Amy Coveno – News Anchor/Reporter – Updated: 12:56 PM EDT Aug 14, 2018
MANCHESTER, N.H. — A Utah man crashed a plane into his own house this week, hours after he allegedly assaulted his wife, bringing back difficult memories for an Amherst woman of a similar tragedy nearly 17 years ago. The pilot, Duane Youd, died in the crash on Monday. His wife and child, who were in the home, survived, despite part of the home becoming engulfed in flames.
On Aug. 25, 2001, Jo Fonda‘s estranged husband flew their private plane into their Amherst home after Fonda filed for a restraining order against him. Fonda’s husband of 20 years died in the crash and destroyed nearly everything they owned, except for a single piece of pottery. “Similar situation where there was a restraining order that was served on my husband and within 12 hours, he had crashed our airplane into our home and burned it to the ground,” Fonda said.
Fonda said she was never physically abused, but her husband was a violent, controlling man. “The banging of a table, you know, the punching of a wall, the ripping off a phone off a wall,” Fonda said.
Fonda feels responsible, she said, to share her story of the warning signs and her strategy with other women who right now are afraid of their partners. She said it starts by getting out of the house. “That is the most dangerous time, right after someone is served a restraining order,” Fonda said.
Jo Fonda shared her story with WMUR.
Fonda said a phone call to a hotline saved her life. She had scrawled the number on a piece of scrap paper that she still has. “It said, ‘pathetic hotline.’ That’s how I felt about the need to reach out for help,” Fonda said.
Fonda’s message to the survivors in Utah is one of love and a shared sisterhood. “She should have never stayed in that house thinking that she was safe,” Fonda said. “My heart goes out to you and I’m so grateful that they did manage to stay safe. It’s a miracle in my mind.”
The memories are difficult to handle, but Fonda said she wants other victims of domestic violence to know that asking for help is what saved her life.
Anyone who is the victim of domestic violence is urged to call New Hampshire’s 24-hour hotline at 1-866-644-3574.
Other links: Glamour.com; The Telegraph
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