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DENVER — The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner has identified the victim in a suspected domestic violence-related homicide as 38-year-old Karen Morales.

On the night of Jan. 23, Denver police responded to a residence near South University Boulevard and East Harvard Avenue.

Police say that upon arrival at the home, officers and medical responders observed damaged furniture and apparent blood spatter throughout the residence.

They then discovered Morales lying unresponsive on an air mattress in a bedroom. She had a laceration to her forehead and bruises and abrasions on her face and head.

A black belt was wrapped around her upper arms and passed across her torso, police said.

According to police, Thomas Garcia, 38, is being investigated for first-degree murder in connection to Morales’ death.

The medical examiner’s office said the cause and manner of death are pending investigation.

On Monday, Morales’ niece Mikayla Morales said she can’t help but laugh when reflecting on her favorite memories with her aunt.

“She was always cracking jokes with us. I think that’s one of the things we’ll always remember,” Mikayla said.

She said Garcia was her aunt’s boyfriend.

“He always needed to know where she was. He would never let her talk to us on the phone alone with her… counting her car mileage,” Mikayla said of Garcia. “We saw the signs too late, I think, is what it was.”

A newly released report by the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board shows domestic violence deaths have increased slightly in Colorado.

“Never in a million years did I think something like this would happen to my family. It just is crazy,” Mikayla said.

The Morales family hopes sharing Karen’s story will save a life.

“My auntie Karen was so much more than a domestic violence case. She was beautiful, energetic, so caring — that’s who she was. That’s how she’s going to be remembered,” Mikayla said.

A GoFundMe has been established to help the Morales family pay for funeral costs.

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