"I want people to know she was a kind and loving and caring person," said Wendy Vellucci about her 27-year-old daughter who was found dead in a room at the MGM Grand Casino Hotel in downtown Detroit last Tuesday.
Tia Vellucci suffered stab wounds and a bite wound to her nose, according to investigators who blame her death on Daniel Michalak, Tia's boyfriend of 7 years.
Wendy Vellucci says the last two years of the couple's relationship had taken its toll on Tia who had showed her mother berating text messages from Michalak.
Tia's mother is now raising money through two GoFundMe accounts for shelters that assist victims of domestic violence in Wayne and Oakland counties.
Daniel Michalak is facing multiple charges of assault, but those charges are expected to be amended to include murder after an autopsy report.
On May 29, at 12:49 in the afternoon, MGM hotel security received information that led them and Detroit Police to check room 408 where they found the lifeless body of Tia Vellucci.
Michalak has been arraigned in Detroit's 36th District Court. He's due back in court on June 15.
Click here to hear from Wendy Vellucci in Kimberly Craig's report.
