WARREN- A petition containing thousands of signatures was meant to be given to Trumbull County prosecutors Monday demanding the release of a teenager accused of killing her father.
The Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative says 15-year-old Bresha Meadows is a child survivor of domestic violence who they believe was defending herself, and her family, from her abusive father.
Bresha Meadows is accused of shooting and killing her father, Jonathan Meadows, 41, on July 28 inside their Warren home. Her mother, Brandi, can be heard on the 911 recording saying her daughter shot her husband in the head.
Brandi Meadows told Fox 8 she believes her daughter is a hero. “I wasn’t strong enough to leave,” Brandi said.
"In developing responses to domestic violence, federal, state, and local governments have invested in criminalization and punishment rather than resources that would protect survivors and offer ways out of abusive relationships," said Marcia Dinkins, executive director Of Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative." We got close to 7,000 signatures in 10 days. This is for Bresha and all victims of domestic violence."
Pastor Dennis Payne of Columbus wanted to give the petitions to assistant Trumbull County Prosecutor Stanley Elkins.
"We would like the prosecutors office to drop all charges against Bresha Meadows and release her immediately," Payne said. But Elkins and a juvenile judge told the group they couldn't accept the petitions. We are not surprised, Payne said. "This is what happens to victims. They show up and they are told not today. We will be back."
