BUCKEYE LAKE, Ohio — The legacy of Tala Smith, a woman brutally murdered by her longtime boyfriend, is now being honored through a community effort aimed at helping domestic violence survivors.

Andrew Hoskinson was sentenced Monday in Licking County to 15 years to life for killing Smith in March 2024 in Newark. Her death has since inspired the creation of “Tala’s Closet,” a small but powerful resource space inside the Water’s Edge Community Center at Buckeye Lake.

The closet is stocked with clothing, makeup and household essentials — available to anyone escaping an abusive situation.

Tala's mom said Tala always said, "See a need, fill a need." Now Tala's legacy is living on by this closet helping other domestic violence survivors.

Lori Swihart, who helps manage the day-to-day operatio

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