In 70 percent of the familes were wife abuse occurs, there is also physical abuse of the children.

Two years later, the daughter told Maria what her father was doing.

Maria couldn't believe her daughter at first , but finally caught John in their 8-year-old's room.
While he slept , Maria took the children and fled to Haven House, a shelter for battered women and their children.

Maria's story is one that Karen Fields, an Outreach Program counselor at Haven House in Pasadena California ,
feels she can tell. " Some of theses women expirences are so horrible that you couldn't print them," she said.