News 12 at 6 o' clock/ February 4th, 2012

AUGUSTA, Ga.--Georgia now ranks in the top 10 in the nation for domestic violence related deaths. And the CSRA is definitely not an exception to this trend.

Just last week, Cayce Vice was shot and killed in her apartment. Her boyfriend, Joshua Jones, was charged with that crime. Now, Cayce's family is hoping her story can help others in abusive relationships seek help.

Howard Vice, Cayce's father says, "I tried my best to get this girl out of the situation she was in with this boy."

"And now we're all mourning the loss of something that could have been prevented," Nicole Jackson, Cayce's friend and co-worker says.

Cayce's family says her boyfriend, and now accused killer, Joshua Jones, physically abused her just a few weeks before she was killed.

Her father says, "If he beat a woman that bad, i knew he'd do it again, and she wasn't just beat, she was beat bad."

Now, friends and family are hoping others can listen to her story and avoid the same fate.

Pastor Don Prosser gave the message at Cayce's memorial service. His message: "If her life can save yours, there is a purpose."

Jackson says, "Women--if you are with a person that beats you, get away. Because look what happened to one of my good friends. It started out like that. And look what happened, look what he did."

And unfortunately, Cayce's story isn't uncommon in Georgia.

Aimee Hall, Executive Director of Safe Homes in Augusta says,"This year we were ranked 6th in the nation for women who get killed by men in domestic violence situations."

And state funding for domestic violence services is limited, which affects Safe Homes, a shelter in Augusta for victims of domestic violence.

"We have 16 beds and we serve 10 counties," Hall tells News 12.

Last year,the Richmond County Sheriff's Office alone had 3,000 reported cases of domestic violence.

Last year, we did have to turn away around about 300 people due to the lack of space, but we don't just say, 'I'm sorry we can't help you,' we help them get transportation and make sure they're safe."

But for victims of domestic violence, there are usually a number of complex reasons why the victims stay.

Hall says, "It takes about 7 to 9 times for a victim to leave an abusive situation before totally breaking that cycle."

And now, Cayce's family, friends, and even people she's never met are mourning a loss they say should never have happened.