In Pennsylvania, domestic violence cases are all too common. Victims of domestic abuse can seek protection by applying for a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order against their attackers. This type of legal protection helps keep potential domestic violence victims safe—without one, the risk of violence and abuse is simply too high. 

At the LLF Law Firm, we can help you protect yourself from domestic abuse. We'll assist you with getting a PFA by guiding you through the entire process. Protect yourself from violence. Call our Family Law Team today at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form. 

A Man in Bucks County Fatally Stabbed His Ex-Girlfriend 

In February 2024, a 23-year-old man was charged by police with fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend. The police were called for a burglary in progress in Lower Makefield Township, and when they arrived on the scene, they saw Trevor Weigel tackle a woman to the ground. He then repeatedly stabbed her. The woman he attacked was 19-year-old Jaden Battista, who is allegedly Weigel's ex-girlfriend. Battista died from her wounds at the hospital. 

Weigel fled the scene and started stabbing himself in the neck, but police were eventually able to take him into custody. He had surgery at the hospital and is expected to survive. He has been charged with homicide, burglary, and other charges. 

A Protection From Abuse Order Can Help Prevent Domestic Violence 

In Pennsylvania, a PFA is a type of legal order that prevents one person from contacting or coming near another. The two people must have a domestic relationship, meaning they either are or were in an intimate relationship or they live together. The person accused of domestic abuse (the defendant) usually must also give up any weapons or firearms to the police. If the defendant violates the PFA and tries to contact the person who filed the order (the plaintiff), they can be charged with criminal contempt and sent to jail. 

What To Do if You Feel Threatened by Domestic Violence 

Even if you've broken up with someone, you're still considered to have a domestic relationship with them. If they threaten you or make you feel unsafe because you decided to break up with them, you should file for a PFA against them. In the case of Trevor Weigel and Jaden Battista, there was no PFA in place, and the two were no longer together. However, if Battista had felt threatened by Weigel, she could have filed for a PFA against him. 

At the LLF Law Firm, our Family Law Team can help you get the protection you need. We'll assist you with filing for a PFA and let you know what your best options are in your situation. Call 888-535-3686 or send us your info via our online form.