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To read Section 9 of the guide online, click this cover:

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Case Studies

Please revisit this page in June 2025.

If you do, you’ll find a collection of historical incidents of relationship violence from across the United States, and in some cases, globally.  This collection is meant to help the young adults we work with understand a few things:

• Anyone can be a victim, an abuser, or a survivor
• Age, gender-identity, ethnicity, & orientation… none of it matter
• Just because you saw it at home or in a movie, doesn’t make it legal.
• Just because you saw it at home or in a movie, doesn’t make it safe.
• Just because you saw it at home or in a movie, doesn’t mean it won’t get out of control.
• All stories are the same, even when the details are different (History rhymes more than it repeats).
• Relationship violence is a violence of control.  

These stories are not shared lightly.

The victims, their families, and in some cases the victim-survivors did not choose to become news stories. In fact, for many, the surviving families and friends of both the victims and the abusers may struggle with feelings of regret, shame, and guilt.

Still, we decided that if sharing these publicly available stories can save the lives of  you – the young adults we work to connect with – then at least some good can come from the extensive and avoidable tragedies that took place.

The cases we’ve selected each have a reason, which we’ll included with the summaries we’ve written.

This is an in-development project. 
Please check back regularly.

• Gabby Petito & Brian Laundrie [Young couple with a slow-burn to deadly physical violence]
• Dhasia Maldanado & Brandon Toseland [Early 20’s, Vegas Locals, fast-paced disaster, active case]
• Travis Alexander & Jodie Arias  [Male victim, female abuser – Not the story most expect]
• Morgan McCaffery & Gilbert Newton [High school sweethearts -> Stalking -> Death after breaking up]
• Ana Abulaban & Ali Abulaban [TikTok Couple: Happy publicly, Dangerous privately]
• LaShonda Childs & Trendell Goodwin [Older abusive ex murders victim after the relationship]
• Ray & Sally McNeil [Illustrates risks of ‘fighting back’ while remaining in abusive+toxic relationships]
• Erin Rios Castro & Joshua Garcia [Pulling away from family, leads to deadly isolation / hiding the signs]
• Emma Walker & Riley Gaul [After breakup due to controlling beahviors, ‘Prom-Star Couple’ turns deadly]
• Ortralla Mosley & Marcus McTear [Pre-parole-hearing McTear illustrates common abuser excuses]
• April Ross & Tranard McConnell [HS Sweethearts, successful public prosecutor shot after divorce]
• Phil Hartman & Brynn Omdahl [Famous and wealthy male victim helps to counter many RV stereotypes]