ROCKFORD, Ill. — As Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to an end, one Rockford woman is continuing her mission to break the stigma and inspire others to speak out.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, every year an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. That adds up to more than 12 million women and men each year.

October 2025,, Lauren Pruitt bravely shared her story on a 13 WREX exclusive, just four years after escaping an abusive relationship.

“I was in an abusive relationship since 2011, so roughly a decade before I permanently decided that it was over,” Pruitt said.

When she first spoke out, the fear was still very real.

“You have your happy times and your highs, and your

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