Minneapolis council hears calls for accountability over killing of Mariah Samuels

The Minneapolis City Council heard public comment on Wednesday afternoon from people who knew Mariah Samuels and are pressing for accountability in her death. Samuels was killed more than a year ago by her ex-boyfriend, and the council is now looking at the warning signs that were missed.

Her family says she repeatedly sought help from police, obtained a protection order and reported violations of it by her ex-boyfriend, David Wright. Her final call for help came on the morning she was killed. Wright was found guilty in her death earlier this year.

Speakers at the meeting argued that Samuels' case shows how the system can fall short even when victims follow the advice they are given. "Mariah Samuels exemplifies the tragic reality that even when victims do everything they are told to do, the systems in place continue to fail them," one community member said.

Another speaker called on officials at every level to treat such calls with urgency. "It needs to be our priority, a priority by this council, a priority by the state, a priority by this country, to take women's calls seriously," the speaker said.

Last week, the council approved a resolution requesting an independent review of how police and other city agencies handled the case. Council Member Jason Chavez said the goal is to learn from what went wrong. "If we don't figure out the things that went wrong, there will be more Mariah Samuels in our city, and that would be unacceptable under our hands," Chavez said.

Several steps remain before the city auditor could be asked to carry out the independent investigation.

Minneapolis police have said they will cooperate with an independent review. The department also said it has made several improvements to its response to domestic violence since Samuels' death.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, more than 12 million people in the United States are affected by domestic violence each year. Anyone experiencing abuse can call the hotline at 800-799-7233, Minnesota Day One at 866-223-1111, or the Women's Advocates crisis line at 651-227-8284. These organizations can connect victims with safe shelter, advocacy, legal help and support groups.

Other resources include Violence Free Minnesota at 651-646-6177 or 800-289-6177, STANDPOINT at 612-343-9842, Mending the Sacred Hoop at 888-305-1650, and the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault at 612-209-9993.