Were Warning Signs Missed in Yeardley Love's Death?

(May 6) -- George Huguely had a history of aggressive behavior toward women, according to various reports, before he was accused of killing 22-year-old Yeardley Love by smashing her head against the wall of her apartment.

That has left many wondering whether warning signs were missed that could have prevented the death of the University of Virginia lacrosse player. Those signs include a violent altercation with a female police officer and a penchant for getting physical with Love.

Reports from family and friends of Love suggest that physical abuse was a part of her tumultuous relationship with Huguely before her death, but went unreported to authorities.

For example, University of North Carolina lacrosse players tried to separate Love and Huguely at a party two months ago after Huguely became violent with his then-girlfriend, according to The Washington Post.

Speaking anonymously, a member of Love's family told the Post that Love had described Huguely as "aggressive" during a conversation the two had in March. "But she said nothing more," the family member said. "I didn't think anything of it."

And Huguely had a criminal record the University of Virginia says it didn't know about.

In 2008, Huguely pleaded guilty to public swearing, intoxication and resisting arrest near a fraternity house at Washington and Lee University. According to The Washington Post, a female officer said Huguely threatened to kill police officers in a slew of racially and sexually charged language. "I'll kill you, I'll kill all of y'all. I'm not going to jail," Huguely reportedly said.

Arresting officer R.L. Moff told The New York Times that Huguely was "by far the most rude, most hateful and most combative college kid I ever dealt with." She used a Taser to subdue him.

Huguely received a 60-day sentence, which was suspended. He was placed on probation.

But the University of Virginia says it was never notified of Huguely's criminal record.

"There is absolutely nothing in my office to indicate that there was any problems or conduct issues with Mr. Huguely," Allen Groves, the dean of students, told The New York Times.

Claire Kaplan, director of Sexual and Domestic Violence Services at the university's Women's Center, said Love didn't have to die.

"I feel like this whole thing was so preventable," Kaplan told USA Today. "Somebody knew something that they thought wasn't important. Did anyone speak out? Did people say to her, 'Yeardley, you are not safe with this person'?"

Huguely's lawyers said Wednesday that the death was a tragic accident. But Charlottesville police are investigating reports that Huguely sent Love death threats.

Mary Beth Lineberry, a graduate of the University of Virginia, said Love's death is "unquestionably tragic" but not at all surprising, considering the statistics about domestic abuse. Three women are murdered by romantic partners every day in the United States, she noted, most of them ages 20 to 24.

"Love's death also exposes an unfortunate reality of college life that's often obscured or silenced in communities, university and otherwise, nationwide," Lineberry wrote for AOL News. "Students generally don't think the statistics apply to them."

At a candlelight vigil Wednesday night, University of Virginia President John Casteen made an emotional plea and begged his students to report domestic violence.

"If your relationship is toxic, seek help," he said. "Don't hear a scream, don't watch abuse, don't hear stories of abuse from a friend. Speak out."