Mother wants domestic violence laws changed following daughter's murder

VEVAY, Ind. - One week after the murder of her daughter near Daytona, Fla. the mother of Loni 'Amber' Turner is trying to change domestic violence laws.

Police say Turner's ex-boyfriend killed the 22-year-old at a motel in Port Orange, Fla. before killing himself. Turner attempted to get help from police and a judge but was told she needed more evidence.

Turner moved to Florida after graduating from Switzerland County High School in 2007 and attending Ivy Tech Community College.

"Her smile pretty well told it all. It melts people, you can't get over it," recalled her brother Cody.

Former teacher Mike Jones was a teacher and co-op adviser for Turner. She worked at a local nursing home while in high school.

"The heartbeat of our community is our young people and there was none that represented our community better than Amber Turner," said Jones.

She was enrolled in cosmetology school while working at a Veterans Administration nursing home in South Daytona, Fla. She had dreams of going back to school once again to become a dental hygienist.

Turner met her ex-boyfriend Erin Ross, 27, online and had a brief romantic relationship. Her mother, Cheryl Dixon, says she told him she just wanted to be friends, but he continued to peruse her. Turner told her mother she was being followed and receiving text messages from Ross describing what she was wearing.

"It got serious enough to where I said you know you really need to take the advice of other and I think you need to go to the authorities," said Dixon.

In late August Turner went to the police and filed a report. Two days later, she followed up by going before a Volusia County judge where she asked for an injunction, ordering Ross to leave her alone.

The judge denied the request saying she failed to prove she was in danger and she was ordered back to court in September, while Ross was summoned.

Five days later, Turner was reported missing and found dead the following day at a motel in Port Orange, about three miles from her job.

"I definitely feel the system failed my daughter. It's only evident. I bury her on Wednesday," said Dixon.

Her mother plans to make sure her daughter's death can help others, she wants to work to change domestic violence laws in Florida.

Amber Turner's visitation is Tuesday, September 6, from 2 - 8 p.m. at Haskell & Morris Funeral Home in Vevay. Her funeral is Wednesday, September 7, at 2 p.m.  The public is welcome at both services.