SAN ANTONIO -- Across the city, crisis response team members have said that they have recently seen an increase in family violence calls. In the past week alone, there have been cases of several deaths and a stabbing around the city. Jane Shafer, a San Antonio Police Department Community Services supervisor, said that the rise in domestic violence calls has crisis response teams on high alert.

Last week, police stormed into an apartment where they said a woman was being stabbed by her ex-fiance. Several days later, Misty Espinoza was shot to death by her jealous ex-husband, police said. Sunday afternoon, Courtney Gass, 26, and her 2-year-old daughter were found shot to death inside their apartment. Gass' boyfriend was arrested and charged with murder.

Shafer said that there is usually a common thread in cases such as these.

"It's a pattern and it's based on power and control," Shafer said. "You leave, I've lost my control and if that means I have to kill you, I'll kill you."

Aggravated family violence cases are up 17 percent. Crisis response team members blame part of that rise on hard economic times and the high unemployment rate.

Shafer, who handles family violence calls every day, said that she sees these situations all too often. Cases escalate because people are afraid to reach out and some ignore the warning signs.

"We want you and your children to be safe," Shafer said. "We don't want to see any more children killed. We don't want to see any more partners killed."

If you need help or are in an abusive relationship, you are urged to call any police substation and ask for the crisis response team.