Women urged to escape abuse as Bronx leads city in cases dropped due to victims not cooperating

Josabeth Diaz, a Bronx mother of three, spent two decades trapped in an abusive relationship. Her journey toward freedom culminated in 2022 after a near-fatal attack that led to the successful prosecution of her husband.

Today, Diaz serves as a volunteer, urging other women to recognise that abuse is not normal and to seek a better way of living. She now shares her story to help others leave behind abusive partners.

The Crisis of Non-Cooperation in the Bronx

A significant number of domestic violence cases in the Bronx remain unprosecuted because victims often decline to cooperate with the District Attorney’s office. This occurs even in situations where the victims initially called 911 for help.

Data from the NYPD’s Patrol Services Bureau reveals that in the final three months of 2025, city district attorneys declined to prosecute 938 cases due to a lack of victim cooperation. An overwhelming 88% of those cases—855 in total—were located in the Bronx.

Approximately 60% of the Bronx cases that fell apart involved domestic violence. This trend highlights a critical gap between emergency intervention and legal resolution.

Did You Know? In the last three months of 2025, 88% of all city cases declined for prosecution due to victim non-cooperation occurred specifically within the Bronx.

Barriers to Justice

Agata DiGiovanni, head of the Bronx DA’s Domestic Violence Bureau, notes that socio-economic conditions in the borough create acute challenges. Many women are financially dependent on their abusers, especially when raising children.

Immigration status also plays a role, as some victims fear government authorities or face threats from abusers who promise to call immigration services. This distrust can prevent victims from seeking help or continuing with a prosecution.

DiGiovanni observes that while victims may call police during an emergency, they are often not interested in further cooperation once the immediate situation is resolved.

Fatal Consequences of the Cycle

The dangers of non-cooperation were highlighted in the case of 42-year-old Yesenia Hall. On February 28, 2026, Hall was stabbed to death in her Bronx apartment and her 16-year-old son was badly wounded.

Police sources revealed that the suspect, 45-year-old Juan Rivas, had a history of domestic violence arrests involving Hall. Despite this, Hall had repeatedly let Rivas back into her life and did not cooperate with previous prosecutions.

Hall’s daughter, Jaylah Maldonado, emphasized that the responsibility for the murder lies solely with Rivas, noting the difficulty of navigating such abusive situations.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that the pattern of non-cooperation often stems from a complex intersection of financial instability and psychological manipulation. When victims minimize attacks—particularly those that leave no visible marks—the risk of escalation could increase, as seen in cases where previous arrests did not lead to permanent separation.

The Danger of Strangulation

A new public service campaign from Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark is focusing on the dangers of strangulation. The campaign notes that nearly seven out of 10 women will be choked by an intimate partner and nearly die.

Many victims minimize these attacks because they often leave no visible marks. The initiative aims to help women realise that being choked is a life-threatening event.

Josabeth Diaz’s Path to Recovery

For Diaz, a chokehold attack in 2022 was the breaking point. She had entered a toxic relationship in 2002 characterized by a partner she described as a controlling and manipulative narcissist.

Diaz’s history with abuse began in childhood, where she witnessed her father hitting her mother. This early experience led her to believe that violence was normal, causing her to decline cooperation in an earlier arrest of her husband.

In 2022, after learning her husband was cheating, Diaz let him back into her home for a conversation that turned violent. He pinned her down and placed her in an “MMA-style” chokehold from behind, causing her to lose consciousness.

Diaz managed to lock herself in a bedroom and call 911, despite her voice being raspy from the attack. Her husband was arrested and later pleaded guilty to criminal obstruction of breathing and criminal contempt for violating an order of protection.

He was sentenced to two years in prison. While he is now free, Diaz relies on her faith and the support of a therapist to maintain her safety and peace.

Looking Forward

Prosecutors may continue to pursue cases without victim cooperation if sufficient evidence is available. For those unable to proceed legally, the city continues to offer services to help victims exit abusive relationships.

Increased public awareness regarding strangulation may lead to more women seeking help earlier. As more survivors like Diaz speak out, other victims could feel empowered to prioritize their safety over the demands of an abuser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do many domestic violence victims in the Bronx decline to cooperate with prosecutors?
Reasons include financial dependence on the abuser, fear of losing income for their children, and a distrust of police and government, particularly among immigrants who may be threatened with deportation.

What is the significance of the Bronx DA’s campaign on strangulation?
The campaign aims to educate women on the extreme danger of being choked, as these attacks are often minimized by victims because they frequently leave no visible marks.

What were the legal consequences for Josabeth Diaz’s ex-husband?
He pleaded guilty to criminal obstruction of breathing and criminal contempt for violating an order of protection, resulting in a two-year prison sentence.

Do you believe increased public awareness campaigns are enough to overcome the financial and social barriers that prevent victims from seeking justice?