Case Report: Homicide of Mariah Samuels and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Incident Summary

On Sunday morning in the Willard-Hay neighborhood of Minneapolis, Mariah Samuels, age 34, was fatally shot outside her residence. The incident is being investigated as a homicide linked to domestic violence. An ex-boyfriend, against whom Ms. Samuels reportedly had a restraining order, has been arrested and is being held on suspicion of murder.

2.0 Background and Systemic Failures

The event highlights critical failures in providing safety and justice, directly impacting progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The victim and her family had reportedly engaged with law enforcement multiple times in the two weeks prior to the homicide. Further evidence indicates the victim’s public disclosure of ongoing threats, property damage, and physical assault just minutes before her death.

• Victim: Mariah Samuels, 34, mother of two.
• Alleged Perpetrator: Ex-boyfriend.
• Pre-Incident Actions:
  1. An active restraining order was in place.
  2. Multiple police reports were filed by the victim and her family.
  3. The victim documented the abuse on social media immediately before the incident.

3.0 Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This case serves as a stark illustration of the challenges in achieving several key SDGs. The homicide is not an isolated crime but a systemic failure with direct relevance to the global development agenda.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The incident is a direct violation of Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. Gender-based violence remains a significant barrier to achieving equality and empowering women and girls. The death of Ms. Samuels underscores the lethal consequences when this target is not met.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The circumstances preceding the homicide point to institutional weaknesses, undermining progress on SDG 16.

  • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. This case represents a failure to prevent a violent death despite clear warning signs.
  • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all. The apparent ineffectiveness of a restraining order and prior police reports suggests a gap in the justice system’s ability to protect vulnerable individuals.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  Violence against women is a severe public health issue. This case represents the ultimate failure to protect an individual’s health and well-being, as called for in Target 3.4, which aims to promote mental health and well-being. The trauma inflicted upon the victim’s family and community further demonstrates the broad public health impact of such violence.

4.0 Recommendations for SDG Alignment

To prevent future tragedies and advance the SDG agenda, the following actions are recommended:

1. Strengthen Institutional Response: Conduct a thorough review of the effectiveness of restraining orders and police protocols in domestic violence cases to ensure they provide meaningful protection, in line with SDG 16.
2. Enhance Community Safety and Support: Increase funding and accessibility for support services for victims of domestic violence, contributing to safer communities (SDG 11) and better health outcomes (SDG 3).
3. Promote Public Awareness: Implement educational campaigns that frame domestic violence as a critical barrier to gender equality (SDG 5) and a threat to public safety and justice (SDG 16).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The issues discussed in the article, primarily focusing on domestic violence and its fatal consequences, are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 5: Gender Equality: This goal aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The article’s central theme is the murder of a woman, Mariah Samuels, as a result of domestic violence perpetrated by a male ex-partner. This is a clear and tragic example of violence against women, which is a major barrier to achieving gender equality.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This goal focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions. The article touches upon the justice system’s role through mentions of police reports, a restraining order, and the eventual arrest of the suspect. It also implicitly questions the effectiveness of these institutions in preventing the tragedy, as the victim’s sister states, “I don’t know if the police can help you all the time.” The homicide itself is a fundamental breach of peace and security.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. The article provides a stark example of the failure to meet this target. Mariah Samuels was subjected to stalking, threats, physical violence (“posted a video that she says shows him hitting her several times”), and ultimately murder by her ex-boyfriend. This represents the most extreme form of violence against a woman in the private sphere.
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article is about a homicide; Mariah Samuels was “shot and killed.” This directly relates to the target of reducing violence-related death rates. The family’s plea to “take domestic violence seriously” is a call to action to reduce this specific form of violence.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. This target is relevant because the article describes the victim’s interaction with the justice system. It is mentioned that she “had a restraining order against him” and was “making police reports, calling the police for the last two weeks.” These actions represent her attempt to access justice and protection through legal channels. The subsequent arrest of the suspect also falls under the purview of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article contains information that directly relates to specific indicators used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

   • Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner. The article implies data for this indicator. It describes Mariah Samuels being subjected to physical violence (“shows him hitting her several times”) and psychological violence (threats, stalking) by her former intimate partner. Her case would be a data point in the measurement of this indicator.
   • Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age. The article explicitly reports an intentional homicide. The statement that Mariah Samuels was “shot and killed” and that her ex-boyfriend is “being held for murder” means her death would be counted in the statistics for this indicator.
   • Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities. The article provides a clear example related to this indicator. The statement, “We both making police reports, calling the police for the last two weeks,” shows that the victim of violence did report her victimization to the police, a competent authority.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.	5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.	16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.	16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities.

Source: cbsnews.com