NEWARK, Ohio — The family of a 21-year-old Newark woman who was allegedly beaten to death by her boyfriend last week has donated her organs.
Tala Smith's family donated her heart, kidneys and liver, helping at least five people.
“Tala had such a loving heart. We decided to get some good out of the situation that donating her organs would be a way for other people to be saved and families out of this bad situation,” said David Tolbert, Tala's dad.
The Newark Police Department said Smith's long-time boyfriend, Andrew Hoskinson, brutally beat her last week. She was pronounced dead on Saturday.
Prosecutors charged Hoskinson with attempted murder, domestic violence and strangulation. He is being held on a $1.5 million bond.
During a 911 call on March 17, Hoskinson told dispatchers he and Smith were arguing.
"We went to the bridge. I was going to jump off the bridge and she passed out right in front of my car and I was scared and she hit her head,” Hoskinson told dispatchers.
“The hospital was not able to confirm that there was any head trauma. Based on that inconsistency in his statement gave us concern that maybe something else was going on,” said Newark Police Sergeant Clint Eskins.
Eskins said Smith had several bruises, some old, some new, when she was taken to the hospital.
Family members say she also had several broken bones.
“He did admit to strangling her earlier in the night in addition to prior to that night and on other occasions there had been strangulation in the home,” Eskins said.
According to a police report, when officer searched Hoskinson's car they found a roll of duct tape and a zip tie.
Police had interacted with the couple at least once before.
Both police and Smith's family are urging you to get help if you or someone you know is being abused.
“If you are in a bad situation, domestic violence and you think that nothing bad is going to happen, it went from happy lucky, loving Tala to a few months ago, people said they started seeing bruises and all of a sudden, she's dead,” Tolbert said.
Newark police said they expect to have the charges amended once they get the autopsy results back.
If you or anyone you know needs help with a domestic violence situation, call LSS CHOICES at 614-224-4663.