Mother speaks out after daughter killed, boyfriend charged
NEWARK (WCMH) – A man arrested and accused of domestic violence and strangulation will also face an attempted murder charge.
A woman who was found unresponsive and hospitalized on March 17, died six days later from an alleged assault. The incident occurred in the 200 block of Eddy Street, near Newark’s Granville Street, where the woman was located in the back seat of a vehicle.
The Newark Division of Police said upon arrival 21-year-old Talia Smith was not breathing, but after performing life-saving measures medics were able to obtain a pulse. She was taken to Licking Memorial Hospital, then later flown by emergency helicopter to Grant Medical Center in Columbus.
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Smith, who was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m. Saturday, reportedly had numerous contusions and abrasions in various stages of healing, with some appearing to have been recently caused, police said. Newark detectives obtained search warrants for the car and the residence of 22-year-old Andrew Hoskinson.
“She was fun, beautiful, outgoing, and outspoken. She was courageous, she loved animals, being outdoors, indoors, singing and dancing. She loved life,” said Connie Tolbert, Smith’s mother.
Evidence of domestic violence was collected, including information that the victim had been strangled as part of ongoing violence.
Hoskinson was charged Sunday with domestic violence and strangulation. The Licking County Prosecutor’s Office later added a charge of attempted murder and will review the case for any potential additional charges, pending the results of an autopsy. Hoskinson is currently being held in Licking County jail on a $1.5 million bond.
Originally from Alabama, Smith spent a part of her life here in Ohio with her boyfriend of five years.
“[There was] never a sign. Never. Nothing. Never a signal, exactly the opposite. The exact opposite is what we got and I can’t understand it,” said Tolbert. “But the more I find out from the detectives, it does make it easier to understand.”
Smith had a job at a Newark Laundromat, called the Big Kahuna. She had been working there since it opened back in August.
“She was a goofball and she was always so happy and smiling, very shy. But customers loved her and she was always very proud of her work,” said Jon Williamson, manager of the Big Kahuna.
Smith’s tragic death caused the workers at the Big Kahuna to make a change to their emergency contact policy.
“Her boyfriend at the time was the emergency contact, so we had nobody to get a hold of. We’re changing it to where it has to be the next of kin. So we have the ability to be able to get a hold of somebody if we feel like they’re in danger,” said Williamson.
In memory of Smith, Williamson said they’re hand-making bows and handing them out to their customers. Orange was her favorite color.
“She was family to us and all of us tried to talk to her or spoke to her and cared about her,” he said. “Hopefully this doesn’t happen again, but we have that option.”
Her mother made the difficult decision to donate her daughter’s organs. She donated her heart, liver and kidneys.
“It’s still very hard, because the one I care about ain’t here,” Tolbert said.
Flowers are now on the side of a bridge in honor of Smith.
“It’s not fair. She was 21, she will forever be 21. She had no time to live,” Tolbert said.
Newark police continues to investigate the case and ask that anyone with any information call 740-670-7215.
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