As a tribute to Maria, Surrey Women’s Centre, the Catroppa family, the City of Surrey and Soroptimist of Surrey/Delta announce the release of The Honest Truth – a video public service announcement to help women identify risk factors for domestic violence and access critical resources such as the Surrey Women’s Centre. This video was produced by local Surrey residents, Alison Soroka and award-winning film maker John Banovich.
On November 24, 2009, Maria Catroppa, devoted mother of four children, was stabbed to death by her husband in their Surrey home. Although he was recently convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, some believe that this could only be the isolated act of a madman. At Surrey Women’s Centre, however, we know that this isolated act is an everyday occurrence in the lives of women. Women, like Maria, are often most at risk for serious bodily injury and even death when they leave a violent relationship. In this case, Honourable Justice Josephson writes “[u]nfortunately, it is not uncommon in situations of domestic violence to see physical attacks on a spouse motivated by anger at an unwanted separation.”
Like many of us, the Catroppa family was unaware of the risk factors that increase the likelihood of serious bodily injury and even death resulting from domestic violence.
Maria’s daughter, Dr. Jay Tuason shares that “her four children and seven grandchildren, were in contact with her daily, and saw her several times a week. As close as we were, as much as we loved her and as much as she meant to us, we still missed the signs, ignored the clues, and thought that she and her spouse were just another normal married couple. As painful as reliving what happened to her is for us, we’re telling her story so that other families don’t miss the signs and ignore the clues.”
It is our hope that you will watch this video and share it with your social networks in memory of Maria, raising public awareness about the warning signs of domestic violence. By sharing the tragic circumstances surrounding the murder of their mother, the Catroppa family wish that this video will “honour their mother’s life by recounting the tragic circumstances of her death.”
