Home / Crime and Justice / Coercive Control's Deadly Toll: Mother Fights for Justice
Coercive Control's Deadly Toll: Mother Fights for Justice
10 Apr
Summary
- Chloe Holland died by suicide after suffering severe abuse.
- Her abuser, Marc Masterton, was convicted of coercive control.
- Her mother campaigns for manslaughter by coercive control.
- Domestic abuse victims die by suicide more than by homicide.
Two weeks before her death, Chloe Holland, aged 23, provided police with a detailed statement about the abuse she suffered from her boyfriend, Marc Masterton. Despite her courageous testimony, Chloe died by suicide, leaving behind her grieving mother, Sharon.
Masterton, now 28, was sentenced to 41 months in October 2023 for coercive and controlling behavior. Sharon Holland is convinced Masterton's actions significantly contributed to Chloe's death, a sentiment supported by the court acknowledging the psychological impact of the abuse.
Sharon is now campaigning for a new offense of manslaughter by coercive control, highlighting that over 354 domestic abuse victims in England and Wales died by suicide between 2020 and 2024, compared to 332 intimate partner homicides.
Chloe's son, now six, is being raised by Sharon, who hopes her daughter's death will not be in vain. Masterton will be released in October 2026, and Sharon fears for her safety and continues her fight for justice.
Masterton received an additional sentence in May 2024 for a previous abusive relationship with Zoe Castle, serving three years and seven months. Sharon hopes to change police policy so suicides linked to domestic abuse are investigated as potential homicides.
