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Framingham Murder Victim's Mother Hopes Daughter's Story Saves Lives

FRAMINGHAM (CBS) – The mother of a woman killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Framingham said her daughter's death should serve as a warning to domestic abuse victims.

Michelle Batista, 31, is the victim of what investigators believe was a murder-suicide. Police found Batista and her boyfriend shot to death inside their Second Street apartment Sunday afternoon.

Batista's mother, Marie Bonilla, was the first person on the scene with police and fire crews. She said she had a bad feeling when her daughter didn't show up for work that morning.

"She calls me every day a couple times a day actually," Bonilla told WBZ-TV. "When there was no answer I said something has to be wrong."

Unfortunately Bonilla had a reason to worry. Her daughter was involved in an allegedly abusive relationship.

Bonilla said she and her family begged Michelle to leave her boyfriend for several years, but she refused. Batista came home time and again with bruises, according to Bonilla, from being hit hard. Bonilla said that's what she thought had happened this time around.

"What I thought was that he beat her so bad she couldn't move. I thought she was hurt. I never was prepared for what I was about to find out," Bonilla said.

Now Bonilla is speaking out hoping to prevent another mother from feeling her pain. She says if she can save one life, sharing Michelle's story will be worthwhile.

To domestic abuse victims Bonilla says, "Run. Get away. No matter how hard it is you don't deserve that otherwise you might end up dead."

Batista is survived by her parents, her siblings, and her 15-year-old son.

Police continue to actively investigate the incident.

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