RALEIGH -- The number of domestic violence murders in the state dropped by 14 in 2013, to 108. Dana Mangum, the Interim Executive Director with The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence says some progress is being made, but the issue still touches way too many lives.

Mangum says, "They're moving in the right direction this year, but if you look at previous years the trend never really is consistent. There are some up years and some down years."

According to statistics from the Attorney General's office, Guilford County reported 11 domestic violence murders last year, the highest in the state, followed by Mecklenburg County with nine. Wake and Buncombe counties each reported eight domestic violence murders, while Durham County reported six and Harnett County had five.