State data shows St. Johns County domestic violence counts nearly doubled in past decade

Domestic violence counts in St. Johns County have nearly doubled in the past ten years, according to state statistics.

Florida Health Charts show that there were 436 domestic violence counts in 2016. That number grew to 844 by 2025, despite just a 47% increase in the county’s population, according to World Population Review.

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Just last weekend, a police report shows that 21-year-old Gage Froeber was “put in a state of rage” after seeing his ex-girlfriend kiss another man outside of Arnold’s Lounge in St. Augustine.

Police say Froeber drove into the side of a car where the two were standing, missing them by about a foot.

The report says he then backed out and hit the car again, pinning his ex between the car and the lounge. The woman had to be transported to the hospital.

It’s an example of the domestic violence that’s becoming more common in St. Johns County and across the nation, and it’s a troubling trend seen by Kelly Franklin, the CEO of the Betty Griffin domestic violence shelter.

“It really saddens me,” Franklin said. “I think it comes down to just the fact that it gets acceptable.”

The St. Johns Board of County Commissioners said there were nearly 2,500 domestic violence-related calls made to local law enforcement last year. Of those calls, 128 of them resulted in assault and battery cases and one stabbing.

“One in three women will have an impact of domestic violence in their lifetime, and between one in seven and one in 10 men will,” Franklin said. “It’s a high number across the nation.”

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A recent FBI report found that there were about 1.1 million domestic violence incidents between 2020 and 2024. About 75% of the victims were women.

Franklin says protection and prevention come with knowing the signs of abuse.

“If someone is acting jealous or they’re blaming their partner for everything that happens, trying to isolate them from their friends and family, talking poorly about them, and not letting them have a support network around them,” Franklin said. “Those are some signs that I would be concerned about.”

If you suspect you or a loved one might be in danger, you can call the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also contact Betty Griffin’s 24/7 helpline at 904-824-1555.

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