BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- So far this year, 16 people have died in Kern County as a result of domestic violence.

Thursday, the Domestic Violence Advisory Council held a conference to kick off domestic violence awareness month, hoping to create change.

The mission of the domestic violence council is to help families deal with the tragedy of abuse and to stop the violence. The 16 local deaths were the results of a dozen different cases.

The theme at this year's conference was Sin By Silence. Highlighted were families who suffer in silence and some women who are in jail for killing their abusive husbands.

In the past two months, there have been four homicides North Of The River directly relating to a domestic violence situations.

In July, Luis Ayala is accused of stabbing his wife to death in their apartment on Victor Street. Just two weeks later, Andrea Santacruz was shot to death by her husband before he took his own life, police said.

In September, Robert Fuller shot and killed his estranged wife, Susan Annette Sowders, then he killed her mother, police said. Adding to the problem, organizers say, in all those cases, children or family members either witnessed the crime or were the first to find the bodies, police said .

Experts say the rise in domestic violence may be fueled by the weakened economy. Adding insult to injury, funding for domestic violence agencies have been cut due to the budget crisis.

According to statistics, 4 million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12 month period. Experts say if you are a victim of domestic violence, don't suffer in silence. Call the DVAC hot line at 800 799-SAFE.