Domestic violence victims remembered at vigil in Sturbridge

Three months after her death, a Sturbridge woman was among a group of 13 domestic violence victims honored at a vigil in Sturbridge.

Maddilyn Burgess lived not too far from the vigil location, and grew up nearby in Oxford.

Her murder not only shook up her family and her community, but also encouraged them to stand up for her and other victims.

"Maddilyn was a beautiful soul inside and out," Burgess's mother Cindi Perla said.

The 28-year-old dreamt of being a nurse, and her parents said she cared for others more than herself.

However, those dreams were cut short three months ago, when she became the latest victim of domestic violence.

"I thought it was strange that she wasn't responding to my text messages, that she wasn't responding to my voicemails," Perla said. "As a mother, you get this horrible gut feeling that something's not quite right, but you can't figure out what it is."

Burgess and her boyfriend had been living together in Sturbridge, when, in August, officials say he bludgeoned her, stuffed her body in his trunk and drove to Maine.

After being pulled over by police, the boyfriend then killed himself.

"Studies have shown that it takes seven times for a woman to leave," Burgess's father Bill said. "Seven attempts to finally get out of a violent situation, a violent relationship. Maddilyn was on number five."

Burgess's grieving parents joined the YMCA Friday night at the Sturbridge Common to honor her and 12 others in the state whose lives were lost to domestic violence.

Their names were written on balloons, and read aloud by a victims advocate for the district attorney's office who had worked with Burgess.

"I was just beside myself that my daughter's name was on that list," Perla said.

Burgess had tried to get out of her relationship, but, like so many other victims, kept going back.

"She was in and out, always get out, would spend a little time and regroup herself," Burgess said. "He would make contact, and they would start talking again, and she would go right back into the relationship."

Among song and prayer Friday was a message of support for victims and hope for a brighter future, looking for a time when no names are on that list.

"We need to make a change," Perla said. "We need to take a look at this problem, and we need to figure out ways that can benefit victims and help them."

Burgess's parents started the Maddilyn Rose Memorial Fund and raised more than $30,000 with the goal of opening "Maddy's House," a shelter for domestic violence victims in southern Worcester County.

The YWCA operates a 24-hour help line at 508-755-9030 and an online chat at www.ywcahelp.com.

More resources can be found at the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and the Office on Women's Health.

Cox Media Group