This Bill (future LAW) is in honor of Emily Anna Asbill (EA). Even though Laws are no longer named after people, we still honor EA’S name with this legislation!

South Carolina Senate Bill S-455 and House Bill H-3522

“Strangulation Legislation”

Emily Anna Asbill (EA), a resident of South Carolina, was 19 years young when in June of 2013 she was strangled to death with a USB power cord by her then boyfriend. This type of tragedy has happened much too often in South Carolina, in that multiple homicides have been found to have previous patterns of non-fatal strangulation (NFS). South Carolina has the unfortunate distinction of being THE LAST state to pass specifically defined anti-strangulation legislation. Advocates have been attempting to influence the legislature through previously filed bills for approximately 8 years.  Victim/survivors of sexual assault, kidnapping, child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking remain at significant risk until South Carolina resolves this issue.

Here are some troubling facts/stats.

·         South Carolina is THE LAST state to pass specifically defined anti-strangulation legislation.

·         Non-fatal strangulation is the # 1 predictor of future homicide.

·         A woman who survives one strangulation assault is 800% more likely to be killed later.

·         Roughly 50% of strangulation injuries are not externally visible.

·         On average, only 3%-5% of strangulation victims get medical treatment

·         There are at least 25 known medical complications associated with being strangled, many of which can lead to lifelong injuries and/or delayed death

·         Recent studies of college-age students revealed that 81% had already experienced a strangulation-related event.

Victim/survivors of non-fatal strangulation can die hours, weeks, or months later, even if they never lost consciousness. Many of the life-threatening injuries victims suffer are internal, not easily seen and require immediate medical attention. 

BENEFITS OF PASSING AN NFS BILL:

•Specifically defining strangulation simplifies understanding and helps prevent misinterpretation and misidentification. It also reduces the chance of minimizing the seriousness of NFS.

•The NFS needs to be a standalone felony law for tracking purposes, to simplify the implementation within existing statutory frameworks and to reflect the deadly serious consequences victims can suffer as established by documented medical research.

•Would create a common language used through all professions and promote specific training and awareness across multiple disciplines.

•Would require a “duty to inform” so that victim/survivors would be made aware of the immediate dangers to their heath and life. 

•Would allow for specific tracking of strangulation across South Carolina that currently does not exist.

To watch a video explanation of the need for the bill, follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TAPaHK5vQk

To read a copy of the legislation, follow this link https://legiscan.com/SC/text/H3522/2025

To stay informed on legislative efforts, follow the Facebook group page entitled “Strangulation Law for SC”, using this link https://www.facebook.com/groups/3854501681461625

PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING YOUR SIGNATURE AND VOICE TO THIS NOBLE EFFORT BY JOINING THIS ONLINE PETITION.

(A message from the founder and Chairman of EAs LOVE FOR LIFE FOUNDATION. Emily Joy!)

 "I'm Emily Joy, the mother of Emily-Anna Asbill. Known as "EA".  She loved life and spent 19 years of it helping others! Please sign and help many others as she would have! We need this Law! God bless each of you!"

How can you help further? Media coverage has been relatively non-existent for our cause. Please contact your local news stations and encourage them to follow this movement.  Please call and email the South Carolina lawmakers (House Reps and Senators) in your area and ask them to support legislation.