Parents, victims educate teens about abusive relationships

Experts say violent relationships can start at a very young age and for teenagers, that can mean an abusive boyfriend or girlfriend. And it's a serious problem that is often hidden from the parents. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, advocates want to get that message across to teens and their parents.

The day after her 21st birthday in 2007, Metro State College student Abby Robertson was found murdered in her Glendale apartment. Police say it was an abusive boyfriend with whom Abby had just left. "He walked into her apartment and stabbed her 27 times and shot her four times," said her mother Kathy Robertson. Abby's mother has come a long way since the memorial service at Metro State for her daughter three years ago.

Marcus Hightower's still awaiting trial for first degree murder, after winning numerous delays against the objections of Arapahoe County's District Attorney. Robertson said her daughter's boyfriend had become increasingly possessive, a fact which she hid from her parents. "Learn the warning signs," she said is her message to other parents, "And take them seriously because my husband and I did not take them seriously enough."

Many girls especially will hide the fact they're in an abusive relationship. "He pushed me, he punched me," said Tia, who didn't want her last name used. As a teen ten years ago, she too was nearly killed by her boyfriend when he tried to push her off a 5th floor parking garage.

"After I broke up with him is when it got really scary," she said, "And it took me years and years to get him to leave me alone.""You need to become an advocate for your teen," said Stasi Clark, whose 21-year-old daughter Toni was murdered by her boyfriend. She and her husband Phil say they never knew Toni's boyfriend was verbally and emotionally abusing her. "She was only physically abused one time and that one time he killed her and it only takes once," said Stasi.

It's a message delivered by advocates at a rally in Denver, to stop a crime that often goes unnoticed until it's too late. "This is a serious, serious problem," said Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey, "Domestic violence starts with young people, these perpetrators start when they're young."Communicating with your teenager about what's "not" a healthy relationship, they say, may end up saving their life. The main message - if you are in an abusive relationship help is available to break out of that relationship no matter what your age.