Elizabeth Chambers Says Everyone Should Know About This Little-Known Safety Tool That Could Help Identify Deadly Relationships

The host of Investigation Discovery’s Toxic is urging people to recognize the warning signs of escalating domestic violence — before a dangerous relationship reaches a point of no return.

Elizabeth Chambers wants people to understand that abusive relationships do not always begin with obvious violence. As the host of Investigation Discovery’s true-crime series Toxic, she has spent time speaking with survivors and examining cases in which controlling behavior and emotional abuse developed behind closed doors. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Chambers highlighted a tool she believes everyone should know about: the Lethality Assessment. It is an evidence-based screening questionnaire designed to help identify whether someone experiencing domestic violence may face a heightened risk of being killed by an intimate partner. Chambers says recognizing patterns early is essential because dangerous behavior can escalate over time rather than suddenly appear without warning.

Among the warning signs explored in the series are behaviors that can initially be mistaken for ordinary relationship conflict or excessive concern. These include tracking a partner’s location through technology, attempting to control who they communicate with, and gradually isolating them from friends and relatives. Chambers explained that individual incidents may not immediately appear alarming, but a pattern of controlling behavior can reveal a much more serious situation. She believes people should pay attention to these changes instead of dismissing them as jealousy, protectiveness or temporary relationship problems. The purpose of a lethality assessment is not to predict with certainty what someone will do, but to help identify serious risk indicators and connect people with appropriate safety resources.

Chambers’ message is especially connected to a devastating case in Enoch, Utah. On January 4, 2023, Michael Haight killed his wife, Tausha Haight, their five children — Macie, Briley, Sienna, Ammon and Gavin — and Tausha’s mother, Gail Earl, before taking his own life. The killings occurred just weeks after Tausha had filed for divorce. The tragedy is the focus of the two-hour special Toxic: What Happened in the Haight House?, which examines the family’s circumstances and the warning signs that may have been overlooked. Through interviews and an examination of the history surrounding the family, the program explores allegations of coercive control, emotional abuse and escalating domestic violence that had reportedly affected the household before the killings.

The special also features true-crime commentator Annie Elise, who helps explain the Lethality Assessment Protocol and how it can be used to recognize situations involving potentially severe danger. The discussion raises difficult questions about whether earlier recognition of warning signs, stronger intervention and better access to support could help protect people living with abusive partners. Chambers has argued that the questions behind these assessments should become familiar to the public, not just to professionals responding to domestic violence calls. She believes people need to understand that abuse is not limited to physical attacks; intimidation, isolation and controlling behavior can also be part of a dangerous pattern. The Haight case demonstrates why those warning signs deserve serious attention, although no screening tool can guarantee that a tragedy will be prevented.

For Chambers, the goal of Toxic is to give survivors a platform while helping viewers recognize behavior they might otherwise overlook. She hopes people will become more comfortable discussing relationship safety and seeking help before a situation escalates. The Lethality Assessment is one tool that can support that process, but it is not a substitute for professional help or an individualized safety plan. Anyone who feels threatened or controlled by a partner should consider reaching out to a domestic violence support organization. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available around the clock at 1-800-799-7233, or online at thehotline.org. Chambers’ central message is that understanding the warning signs can matter — and that people should not have to wait for physical violence before taking their safety seriously.

Source: PEOPLE