HARRISBURG, PA. -- In alignment with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, members of Pennsylvania's General Assembly paused Monday, to honor victims. The third annual commemoration was meant to honor those who lost their lives to domestic violence during the last year.
Family members of Karlie Hall were among those who addressed the assembly at the Capitol. Hall was beaten, and strangled to death in her college dorm room in February of 2015, by her boyfriend. She was at 18-year-old freshman at Millersville University at the time. That boyfriend, Gregorio Orrostieta, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for Hall's murder.
"I tell Karlie's story over and over again," said Jeanette Hall, Karlie's mother. "It's important, because others may see themselves in her story and seek help. Karlie's story creates awareness and contributes to the education of others."
According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 113 people were killed in domestic violence incidents over the last year.