Lujan has worked with the agency for two years and has seen domestic violence firsthand. She described a woman she calls "Delilah" to protect her identity. Delilah is elderly, maybe in her mid-60s, and her son, in his mid-20s, financially, physically and emotionally abused her for many years.
He took control of her finances. When she tried to stand up for herself, Lujan said, physical retaliation followed every time.
Lujan said cases like Delilah's are frequent, but the warning signs are not always a busted lip or bruises. A friend or family member who pulls away or gets more private about things they used to share can signal something is happening. Significant weight loss and cuts count too.
Women's Protective Services offers support groups, one-on-one counseling and connections to legal help. Lujan said if you notice those signs in someone you know, you can discreetly pass along those resources. Timing matters. "Majority of the time, whenever a survivor is getting ready to leave, that is when they're most at risk," Lujan said. She said the abuse almost always escalates to a physical or fatal incident.