The chief said Eric Sirons used a handgun during the slayings.
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In 2017, 591 incidents were reported by Clark County law enforcement agencies, according to records from the Ohio Attorney General’s office. That was about 30 less than 2016, but still higher than 2015, 2014 and 2013.
“The things we typically run into are physical and emotional abuse, threats or intimidation,” Sgt. Denise Jones with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office said.
Jones is one of the leaders fighting against local domestic violence at the sheriff’s office. She said the number of 2018 domestic violence incidents so far are similar to the 2017 statistics, although they are still being accumulated.
The sheriff’s office won a $675,000 grant to combat domestic violence earlier this year. The office is currently examining how it can better respond to domestic violence incidents, Jones said.
“We are dedicated to fighting domestic violence,” Jones said.
Anyone in a violent relationship needs to seek help, Jones said. She encourages a phone call to the sheriff’s office, however, Project Woman and City Lookout are Clark County victim advocate agencies that do good work, she said.
Court records obtained by the Springfield News-Sun show Eric Sirons had filed for divorce in April and a court motion showed he was living in the basement and thought Jennifer Sirons was making the house “unlivable.”
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There are few things more traumatizing than going through a divorce, said Dennis O’Grady, a communication psychologist and marriage counselor. He said anyone going through a divorce should seek counseling.
“Going through a divorce makes people become who they aren’t,” he said. “If you want to know who you’re not, go through a divorce. And go through a contentious divorce. Go through a divorce and slug it out with attorneys and courts who try to be well-meaning but it can be just robbing people of their self-confidence and shaming.”
Divorce creates feelings of guilt, O’Grady said, and there isn’t a lot of compassion for people who are going through it.
“Going through one, you are completely changed,” O’Grady said. “If you’re going through a divorce, go get help.”
Eric Sirons will be remembered at the Littleton and Rue Funeral Home on Saturday morning. Visitation will begin 12 p.m. and the funeral will begin at 2 p.m., according to his obituary.
The obituary notes he served Springfield by working for the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, The American Red Cross and supported the Nehemiah Foundation.
Sirons worked for the Springfield News-Sun as an account manager for 28 years and worked for the Chamber of Greater Springfield as their membership director for eight years, according to the obituary.
READ: Springfield murder-suicide: Couple was going through divorce
The Chamber of Greater Springfield released a statement to their members announcing they are creating a scholarship for the surviving Heiser children who were inside the house during the shooting.
Funeral arrangements haven’t been announced for Jennifer Sirons or Heiser, yet.
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