Lorene Denton’s final calls to 911 captured a terrifying struggle inside her Ohio home, with the 70-year-old woman crying out for help as she tried to protect a female relative from her husband. Hours later, both Lorene and 64-year-old Jeffery Denton were dead following a deadly domestic violence incident in Stark County.
The shooting happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday, November 11, at a home in the 4100 block of Broadway Avenue NE in Nimishillen Township. According to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched after a woman reported violence inside the residence. As officers made their way to the home, another report came in that a man had shot a woman.
The first 911 call came from Lorene herself. During the approximately five-minute conversation, she could be heard crying and shouting that her husband was attacking the female relative. She repeatedly urged the dispatcher to send police quickly.
At one point, Lorene described what was happening inside the house, telling the dispatcher, “He’s on the floor on top of (her).” She also reported that her husband had been drinking and mentioned that guns were downstairs. The recording became especially disturbing about three minutes and 54 seconds into the call, when a scream could be heard before the line went silent.
The female relative then made another 911 call while hiding inside an upstairs closet. Speaking quietly, she told the dispatcher that Jeffery had a gun. She also said she had hit him “pretty bad” during the struggle. According to her account, she had last seen Lorene after she was shot in the leg and ran to hide after hearing another gunshot.
The second call lasted approximately 12 minutes. Throughout the conversation, the frightened woman repeatedly asked the dispatcher not to leave her alone while she waited for help. “Please don’t leave,” she pleaded. The dispatcher remained on the line until deputies reached the house.
When deputies entered the residence, they found Jeffery seated in the kitchen and Lorene lying on the floor. Authorities said Jeffery then shot himself in the head as officers entered. Lorene was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jeffery was transported by the Nimishillen Township Fire Department to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Deputies also located the female relative inside the upstairs closet. She was taken to the same hospital for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The woman later thanked the dispatcher for staying with her throughout the frightening ordeal. “Thank you for staying with me,” she said. Those words came after nearly 12 minutes of waiting and pleading for officers to reach her.
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from the Nimishillen Township Fire Department and the Stark County Coroner’s Office. Investigators have not released a complete account of what led to the violence, and the case remains under investigation.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence or fearing for their safety can call 911 in an immediate emergency. People seeking confidential support in the United States can also call or text 988 for mental health crisis assistance. The Stark County Crisis Hotline is available at 330-452-6000.