The mother and sister of a teenage girl recently murdered in Highlands Ranch will help their loved ones' legacy live on by helping teach girls about toxic relationships, they said in an interview shared with media.
The two spoke about Mya Pena, 17, after the teen was killed Jan. 14 by her boyfriend, Samuel Hoffman, 18, who later killed himself, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
“We want to empower other young ladies,” Mya's mother, Audra Pena, said in the interview. “That's our mission now.”
Audra Pena and Alexis Pena, Mya's older sister, hope to form a foundation in Mya's name with the goal of teaching girls about the red flags in unhealthy relationships and providing schools with counselors trained in dealing with these situations.
In the interview, recorded by FOX31, Alexis Pena told the public for the first time how her sister died.
“She did fight for her life,” she said. “He did not shoot her. It was a strangulation and she did fight..."
That's why Audra and Alexis want to help provide self-defense classes in middle schools through their foundation.
“I think that if there's more awareness and more information about self-defense … I think it could save a lot more lives,” Alexis said.
Mya's story has already inspired some people, her mother said.
“I received a message from a young lady yesterday that said `I cut off a toxic relationship because of Mya's story,'” she said. “To know that Mya's story is going to inspire women to cut toxic relationships off is giving us strength and hope.”
While they hadn't been in a relationship for long, Mya knew about Hoffman's battle with mental illness, Audra Pena said. Hoffman had previously been placed on an M1 hold after visiting Mya at her school, Mile High Academy in Highlands Ranch, Sheriff Tony Spurlock said. He was also being investigated for a domestic violence incident in a separate relationship.
“Because she had such a big heart, she tried to help him. She was trying to save him,” Audra said.
While Mya confided in some family members about the relationship, her mother feels there was a certain line she couldn't cross with family, she said.
“It would have been helpful had she been able to go to somebody,” Audra said. “That's why we want that to be implemented in schools all around our country…to be able to have that outlet for young girls.”
Hoffman, who lived in Centennial, picked Mya up from school Jan. 14 and within about 15 minutes, he killed her, Spurlock said. That night, Hoffman shot himself as law enforcement officers approached his vehicle in El Paso County.
While Audra and Alexis Pena say their pain has been unimaginable, they've found peace in their faith and the belief that they will see Mya again someday.
“She wanted to be here,” Audra said. “We're going to fight back for her and we're going to make her life live on forever.”
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Family members of slain teen speak out about toxic relationship - Highlands Ranch Herald
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