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Mother of murdered teen speaks out against abuse

Posted at 10:20 PM, Mar 07, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-08 20:18:21-05

TOOELE, Utah -- The mother of murdered teen Micaela Costanzo shared her story to help end child abuse and bullying.

Her daughter was killed in Wendover on March 3, 2011 and found buried a a shallow grave.

Celia Costanzo, along with members of Bikers Against Child Abuse, talked about their efforts to make sure what happened to Micaela doesn't happen to anyone else. Costanzo, fighting back tears, walked us through the hours and days leading up to her daughter's death and after she was found.

It was an emotional presentation as Costanzo talked about how Micaela made being a single mom easy, and she described the immediate and overwhelming concern that something was wrong that day when no one had seen Micaela since school.

Costanzo encouraged everyone to not take words lightly, especially those of a threatening nature, and to find the courage to tell someone when bullying is happening because it could save a life.

"I want, along with BACA, to end bullying," she said. "If this helps one child, student, parent, makes their life better--then it was worth it."

BACA officials tell FOX 13 News they plan to be at the parole hearing for Toni Fratto, the woman who pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years.