In the autumn of 2016, a promising life was tragically cut short in Richmond, Virginia. Shantisha Latrice Dortch, a 29-year-old female, was found deceased on October 2, 2016. A recent graduate of the Centura School with a certification in phlebotomy, she was eagerly anticipating the start of a new career. Known to her loved ones as 'Tisha,' she was a vibrant presence in the lives of her family, friends, and neighbors.
Shantisha was a devoted mother to her two children, Da'Kari Harris and
Za'Nya Dortch. Her life was characterized by her love for her children and the joy she found in spending time with them. She had graduated from Meadowbrook High School and had a compassionate nature, which she channeled into her work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Her friends remembered her for her caring personality and sense of humor.
The circumstances of her death were heartbreaking. It was determined that Shantisha was a victim of a murder-suicide. The perpetrator was identified as the father of her children, who took his own life after ending hers. This devastating act of violence left two children without their parents and a community to mourn the loss of a young mother on the cusp of a new chapter in her life.
