Domestic violence, mental health issues play key roles in murder-suicide
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — The murder-suicide of Renetta Lewis and her ex-husband Ansel Lewis highlights two things, domestic violence and mental health issues.
According to court records, just one day before Rennetta Lewis was shot and killed by her ex-husband Ansel Lewis, she filed for a protection order.
She claimed that Lewis was suffering from a mental disorder and would throw “tantrums” at times. Resulting in the ex-husband causing damage to their home on East Bunche Street and items in their yard.
Angela Underwood the executive director of the House of Ruth argued that a protection order does nothing to protect victims of domestic violence.
“A protection of abuse order, it’s more of a beginning paperwork stage. But again, at the end of the day, if the abuser is set on taking the life, or harming that victim, they would do anything to get to that victim,” Underwood said.
Back in 2023, Rennetta Lewis filed for a divorce that was finalized in February 2024. Ansel Lewis was also suffering from bipolar disorder.
According to Dr. Emma Quadlander-Goff, an assistant professor for the Department of Counseling and Rehabilitation at Troy’s Dothan campus, it is a mood disorder that causes those affected to experience some occasional manic moments and moments of depression.
“When we think about mania, we think of increased energy. There may be an elevated or even irritable mood,” says Quadlander-Goff. “When we see people with bipolar disorder jump into that depressive state, we’re looking at more feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and lack of motivation.”
While studies have shown that those diagnosed can become violent individuals, Quadlander-Goff said that it is not a normal thing and that other factors play a key role.
“There’s a lot of things that can build up and factor into a tragedy like this, it can be substance abuse, an increase in stress, not getting enough sleep, not taking medications regularly,” Quadlander-Goff said.
Quadlander-Goff said that people should always look for signs of a possible diagnosis but it “does not define who you are.”
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