Many people were aware of the young immigrant family's struggles, but factors might have limited intervention.

Her sister has told reporters that Benitez said Rodriguez beat her. Others who knew the couple have discounted that claim.

Authorities may intervene if children are being abused, but if an adult is being abused, then he or she must agree to seek help.

If social workers sense there might be abuse or violence in a relationship, they can help encourage the victim to seek help, said Christel Nichols, director of House of Ruth in Washington, an organization that helps victims of domestic violence.

Nichols did not speak directly about Benitez or Rodriguez, but she said if a person is reluctant to admit there's a problem or to seek help, social workers will keep trying. They might continue to point out typical signs of abuse and refer the victim to places that offer help, or talk about protective orders if necessary. Exceptions exist, but if an adult resists help, a social worker's hands are often tied, Nichols said.

"Social workers must support them and encourage them in any way possible to take that kind of first step," she said.

With children, it is a different matter, Nichols said. If a child shows signs of abuse, child protective services can step in and investigate.

None of the friends, relatives or professionals interviewed by The Frederick News-Post have said the four Rodriguez children showed any signs of physical abuse, though neighbors said the children were seen outside their house underdressed and unsupervised.

Society must change

Hood College Professor Lynda Sowbel emphasized that domestic violence can be curbed with intervention.

"The more support and more services involved, the less likely something like this could happen," she said, referring to the deaths. Still, there are no guarantees and families at risk are not always known to the system.

Sowbel, an assistant professor of social work at Hood, said she could not comment on this specific case because she does not know all the details.

She agreed that social workers who detect abuse do what they can to refer the victim to the proper services.

"But they are not mandated services," she said.

Society needs to change for domestic abuse and violence to be addressed, Nichols said. Domestic violence cases are vastly underreported.

"It's the fact that a huge amount of it goes on and ... it goes on under the radar," she said.

The problem is so psychologically based that even going to the best shelter in the world is not by itself going to address the issue, she said. More emphasis on mental health and more appropriate resources, such as shelters, are needed. Messages of violence on television and mass media can exacerbate the problem, too.

Nichols compared domestic violence to smoking -- something that used to be widely accepted in society, but over the years has become less accepted because of laws and changes in cultural attitudes.