Volunteers Hope to Shed Light on Epidemic of Teen Dating Violence

Jacque Villagomez was a track star who dreamed of becoming a model. Born and raised in the Central Valley, she moved to Lake Forest as a teen and graduated from .

At 19, she met an Iraqi war veteran at a party, and a whirlwind romance followed. Soon, they were living together. Then, on Sept. 2, 2008, just four months after they’d met, police were called to the couple’s San Clemente apartment.

Villagomez had been savagely beaten. She died later at the hospital, and her boyfriend, John Needham, was charged with murder. (Needham later died, while awaiting trial.)

Since her death, friends and family members of Villagomez have channeled their grief by supporting Laura’s House, a Ladera Ranch nonprofit group that works to prevent domestic violence and support its victims. On Feb. 11, Laura’s House will hold a candlelight vigil to honor Jacque Villagomez and all victims of teen dating violence. The event is appropriately held in February, which is Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

“Jacque was only 19 years old when she was beaten to death by her boyfriend,” said Marissa Presley, who organizes teen violence prevention and education programs for Laura’s House. “It is in our community. It happened to one of our girls. She was one of our babies.”

Pressley, who regularly conducts workshops for teens to teach about healthy dating relationships, said abuse in teen relationships is more widespread than most parents realize.

According to recent studies, one in three teens experience some type of abuse in their romantic relationships, including emotional and verbal abuse, Pressley said. Nearly 80 percent of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date the abusers, she said.

“It is really scary out there,” Pressley said. “What we’re seeing is comparable to adult abusive relationships. I’m hoping what the adults will realize is that this is happening in teenagers' lives.”

Pressley said her goal is also to help teens to recognize when a friend might be in trouble.

Some of the warning signs include relationships with many breakups followed by makeups. Abusers tend to be jealous and work to isolate their partners from friends and family, Pressley said. 

Victims also often answer the phone nervously and quickly when an abuser calls, start wearing a lot of makeup to cover bruises, and wear hoodies and long sleeves (even in hot weather) to hide their injuries, she said.

“Teens should look at the individual they are dating. How does he treat the waitress, the cashier and the busboys on a date? How does he treat their mom? Does he respect women?” she said.

The candlelight vigil will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11, in the Upper Quad at El Toro High School. Parking will be available on Serrano Avenue and Ridge Route, next to the Aquatic Center.

More information about the programs and services offered by Laura’s House can be found at laurashouse.org or by calling its counseling and resource center at 949-361-3775. Victims of domestic abuse can get immediate help by calling the Laura’s House 24-hour hotline at 949-498-1511 or toll-free at 866-498-1511.