Thumbs up: Friends of C. Jennifer Dowell used her tragic death to try to save others from the same fate.

Dowell, 53, was found beaten to death in her Manchester Township home on June 8. Her estranged boyfriend, Ross William Crawford, 40, of the 500 block of Harvest Drive in the township, is charged with her homicide.

Northern York County Regional Police had filed multiple charges over the years against Crawford -- for arson, aggravated assault, simple assault, burglary, making terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, theft and other alleged offenses -- relating to his on-and-off relationship with Dowell.

In fact, he was supposed to be on house arrest when he allegedly killed her.

Dowell's friends held a celebration of her life Friday, an event that also served as a fundraiser for her funeral costs.

But all additional money raised was to be donated to Access York and the YWCA -- two organizations that aim to end domestic violence and aid victims, said Nikki Coleman, a friend of Dowell and event organizer.

Literature about domestic violence and resources offered by Access-York were also available at the event.

"We are very pleased that she's (Coleman) being proactive, not only for the fundraising aspect but also for the awareness," said Barbara Woodmansee, Access-York's community education director.