Hello listeners. I'm your host Amara and this is Black Girl Gone, I tell the story of Latasha Norman, a 20-year-old

college student who disappeared on November 13th, 2007, and Jackson, Mississippi.

At the time, Latasha was a student at Jackson State University, but on the day she was last seen, Latasha attended her class.

After she left her last class, Latasha vanished.

The next day when her car was found on campus with no sign of her, she was reported missing.

A few weeks later, her body was found in a wooded area.

She had been stabbed to death.

When detectives dig into Latasha's life,

they discovered that she had been a victim of domestic violence,

and it didn't take them long

to figure out who was responsible for her disappearance and ultimately her murder.

This is Latasha's story.

For a long time, domestic violence in teen and young adult relationships wasn't something

that people discussed very often but in recent years more and more people have

been speaking out and bringing awareness to the issue. The senseless murder of Latasha Norman is a heartbreaking

example of how a young love can turn violent and deadly. Since her murder,

Latasha's family has made it their mission to bring awareness to the epidemic of domestic violence.

They do it to honor Latasha and in hopes that they can save another young woman for meeting the same fate.

Latasha was born in Greenville, Mississippi on April 21st, 1987, where she was raised

by her mother Patricia and her stepfather Danny.

She grew up in a large close-knit family in the small town.

Her mom said that Latasha always had a smile on her face

...