Jacksonville woman shares her story of getting out of domestic violence relationship to help others

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville woman who was shot twice by her former boyfriend and survived is using Domestic Violence Awareness Month to try to prevent other people from falling victim.

Aja Franco has scars on her face, shoulder and side and she said they remind her every day of the abusive relationship she endured for several years that ended in 2005 with gunfire.

"I knew I needed to get away from him. I just didn't know how," Franco said.

Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Franco wants to help other women who feel trapped.

"Learn the signs early on; don't even get into relationships," Franco said.

Franco said she saw signs in the first couple months, but he was always apologetic afterwards.

"He punched me and I had a black eye then it escalated to holding me, false imprisoning me, tying me up in my room, handcuffing me to my bed for days," Franco said.

When she finally worked up the courage to leave that’s when she said Paul Rentas-Rivera fired shots into her van, killing her niece and striking her.

"It was very scary," said Franco.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, more than 1,200 arrest warrants were served since last September for domestic violence.

This week an Amber Alert was issued for a 4-year-old boy after police found his mother's body in an apartment complex.

The boy was found safe in Maryland, but his father Norris Dail, who was also the woman’s boyfriend, is still wanted by police.

“Clearly it’s a case of domestic violence so it’s something we will look at, at some point,” said Sheriff Mike Williams.

Rentas-Rivera is now serving a life sentence.

Cox Media Group