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The Murder of Yeardley Love
In 2010, a case of domestic violence rocked a nation and forever changed the close-knit campus of the University of Virginia. Yeardley Love, a beautiful 22-year old senior at the university, was just three weeks shy of graduation when she died at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, George Huguely.
I distinctly remember being captivated by Yeardley’s death, and I obsessively followed the extensive news coverage at the time. I was well aware of the sad statistics around relationship violence. Yet, as foolish and naïve as it sounds, I didn’t think that it could happen to two privileged, attractive young adults at one of the most elite universities in the country.
Early Life
Yeardley Reynolds Love and George Wesley Huguely V were practically mirror images of each other in terms of background. Both were born in 1987, grew up in affluent neighborhoods in Maryland, and attended posh private schools. Both were also talented athletes. While in high school, Yeardley played varsity lacrosse and field hockey, and George played varsity lacrosse and football. At UVA, Yeardley…
