Last week, Jennifer Davis and her partner Andrea Pisanello were shot and killed in Largo, Florida, and Davis’ four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were shot and killed in nearby Clearwater by Davis’ former husband, Oliver Bernsdorff, whom she had divorced in August. He is the children’s father, and had retained custody of them. Bernsdorff shot himself to death after killing the others.
There is no evidence so far of homophobia as a motivating factor, which makes the events no more or less tragic. Murdering children is beyond horrific. Bernsdorff was thus clearly unstable enough that it’s easy to imagine he would have done the same had Davis gone on to a relationship with a man, or even remained single.
The media is being coy about Davis and Pisanello’s relationship, however. The Largo police were direct, but abrupt: “Our investigators believe that the two victims lived together as a couple and were involved in a relationship. Further comments will not be made in reference to their relationship.” One article simply calls Pisanello “another woman” found at Davis’ house, and the AP goes for the classic “roommate.” Come on, folks. A little respect please. The media would have no hesitation saying “boyfriend” if that was the case.
My condolences to both Davis and Pisanello’s family and friends.
(Thanks, PageOneQ.)
I knew Andrea and she would have indeed wanted directness and honesty regarding her relationship with Jenn. Andrea did not mince words and she was proud of who she was. I find the media’s description, or rather, lack there of, to be insulting to the readers sensibilities and to the memory of my friend. I was most appalled, however, by one media report that the couple was “babysitting” Andrea’s daughter.
Blah blah blah..it is the media for christ sakes, when are they ever accurate on any of their stories?
Ok I have a real big problem here… I knew him years ago and what I think is irrelevant what I do find up hauling is that out of 3 paragraphs one is about how these girls were referred to!!! Get over it girls I love you all but get the chip off your shoulders and just look at the facts 5 people are dead here in a horrific crime and terrible story and all you talk about is how if she were straight how she would have been talked about. She and they are dead period your feelings about her sex life are regardless. Poor things poor kid’s poor families that are totally shattered is what you should talk about.