Learn More about the case

What happened to

talia Petoia?

On March 10th, Talia Petoia was shot in the heart by her boyfriend, Tyler Laughter. Her death was ruled an accident before the autopsy was complete.

In accordance with this finding, Tyler Laughter has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. This charge indicates that a death was caused by accident in the absence of gross negligence or commission of a criminal act.

Talia’s mother has asked both Sherrif Wright and District Attorney Murray to call in the State Bureau of Investigation, because the Laughter family is connected to local government and law enforcement. She also alleges that the family has evidence of an ongoing pattern of abuse between Tyler and Talia. Her requests have been ignored.

At this time, Tyler Laughter has not spent a single night in jail. He has been let out on bail for an amount lower than that of a man in the county who was recently charged with shooting a horse. He did not appear in court for his arraignment on June 12th. In spite of the fact that he is being charged with a gun crime, and his defense team claims that he is a danger to himself, the District Attorney’s office does not know whether Laughter has continued access to guns.

About

Talia

Talia Petoia was a singer, actress, and a loving sister, daughter, and friend. Talia was born and raised in Tryon, North Carolina, where she participated in youth theater, music, and soccer, and was the member of a homeschool group. She graduated Polk County High School in 2014 and UNC Charlotte in 2022 with a BA in English.

Talia was the second of twelve children. She left behind eleven siblings, three parents, and countless friends.

Friends describe a talented, endlessly loving young woman, who always had a genuine complement to give and an idea to have a good time. They also note that Talia was unusually brave, even as a young child. One childhood friend described an incident when four year old Talia saved her from a nine year old bully by fearlessly jumping on his back.

One of the great injustices of Talia’s loss is that she never had the chance to realize the potential her friends and family saw in her. As her mother, Julie Daniels said, “She never got to do anything. She didn’t get to get married, have a baby, have a career.”

Talia’s loss is an uncontested tragedy, and its handling by the Sheriff Tim Wright, the PCSO, and DA Andrew Murray should concern every member of our community.

Our History

Who we are

This page and the organization behind it are run by friends of Talia and the community members who have been engaged and concerned by her case.

We are not the family of Talia Petoia, and our actions are not dictated or orchestrated by the Petoia-Daniels family.

We hold no hatred towards Tyler Laughter or the Laughter family. We do not claim to know what happened on the night that Talia was killed. We do not hold that Tyler is a monster. We do hold that Tyler is subject to the same laws as every citizen of Polk County, North Carolina, and the United States of America, and that appropriate consequences for one’s actions are essential for both a functioning society and for the healing of an individual who claims to be devastated by the death he caused.

We do not hold any malice towards Tyler, his family, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Timothy Wright, the District Attorney’s Office, DA Andrew Murray, or anyone else. Any misstatements of fact are entirely accidental.

This group was organically formed in the aftermath of Talia’s memorial service, eight days after her death. Friends gathered to eat, drink, and talk about Talia. Very little eating and drinking went on, but the discussions of how to help Talia and her family quickly intensified. Suggestions ranged from memorial flower gardens to meal trains, but kept circling back to the investigations, and the unsatisfactory press that had thus far been released. Universally, her friends were disturbed that in spite of claims of domestic violence, and despite the fact that the autopsy had not yet been completed, the shooting had already been ruled accidental. Several members of these conversations formed an ongoing group text, and Justice for Talia was quickly formed.

What are our goals?

Why are we here?

We want talia’s death to be investigated by the state bureau of investigation.

We have evidence that Tyler threatened previous girlfriends saying he would never be charged for abusing her because “he had family in high places.” We have heard allegations that he has family in the Polk County Sheriff’s office and/or EMS.

Talia’s mother has asked for the SBI to be called in. Initially, Sheriff Tim Wright stated he had no problem with this. However, we later learned that when he spoke to the SBI, they “agreed” that there was no need for an independent investigation. We do not concur.

We want Tyler Laughter Charged appropriately.

Tyler Laughter has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. This is the killing of another person in a way that is accidental, in a manner that is not otherwise criminal, and in a way that is not criminally negligent.

Tyler claims that Talia was accidentally shot in the heart while he was handling a gun.

We want to know how shooting someone through the heart would not be considered criminally negligent, and why it is assumed that this was an accident in spite of an alleged history of domestic abuse.

We want Tyler Laughter thoroughly investigated.

Talia’s death was declared an accident within days of her death, before her autopsy was completed. At the time of his second court date, no investigation had been started. It appears that PCSO is not interviewing close friends and family about the nature of their relationship.

Talia’s family claims to have written evidence of abuse Tyler committed towards Talia. Previous girlfriends have come forward to state that they were also abused by Tyler. Other community members have reported witnessing abusive and behavior by Tyler towards Talia. We want to see all of this thoroughly investigated.

We want Talia’s family treated with respect.

Over the course of this investigation, Talia’s mother Mrs. Julie Daniels has been treated with extreme disrespect by the PCSO and DA Murray. They have referred to her by the wrong name, refused to take her phone calls, and dismissed her concerns about the state of the investigation.

In addition, Tyler Laughter’s family have been publicly cruel towards Talia’s family, posting untruths about their pasts, details from private conversations, and claiming that the Petoia-Daniels family is spreading hate about Tyler online. This is patently false. Presumably, they are talking about the Justice for Talia campaign. We are not family of Talia, and as stated above, we have no hate for Tyler or the Laughter family. Asking for a thorough legal investigation is not hateful. We hope to see both Polk County officials and the Laughter family correct their behavior in future.

What are we doing?

We are spreading awareness about Talia and her case.

Members of our group are variously maintaining an online community to share updates about the case, speaking with press about Talia and the case, attending community meetings when possible, and hosting events such as the candlelight vigil.

We are sharing Talia’s story as broadly as well can. We have heard most from people who knew and loved Talia (a long list) but we have also heard touching testimonies from people who never knew her, who have been touched by her case and offered their help. This case goes beyond one family and one community, and the way it has been handled should concern every citizen of Polk County, North Carolina, and the United States at large.

We are raising money on behalf of the family and victims of domestic violence.

By selling stickers, placing collection jars, and sharing the family’s gofundme, we are raising money for the family to use to hire forensic experts, lawyers, and if any money is left over, a scholarship in Talia’s name through the Polk County Community Foundation.

Prints of the painting Talia and the Sun are being sold to benefit Steps to Hope, a local nonprofit dedicated to fighting domestic violence.

We are advocating through official channels.

Our members have spoken to local, state, and national officials to advocate on behalf of Talia’s case. We have garnered attention from across the nation and we will not stop until justice is served.

We are correcting misinformation.

From both officials and the public, Talia’s family have been the subject of scrutiny, disrespect, and false statements. We will publicly defend Talia’s family, who did nothing to cause this situation, and we will address and debunk any falsehoods, regardless of their source.

We are sharing information for other victims of domestic violence and their families.

Talia’s situation was in no way unique. Women who are victimized by their partners are not stupid, and anyone can find themselves in a dangerous situation at the hands of someone they love. We are dedicating on sharing information defining abuse, identifying behaviors of abusers and abuse victims, and resources to help you get out.

How you can help

Donate

Purchase a sticker, poster, or postcard, request a Justice Jar for your business, donate to the family’s gofundme (linked in our header), or purchase a print to support Steps to Hope.

Post about the case on social media, share our press, send postcards and hang posters, and talk to people about the case. The more eyes are on it, the more pressure is on to do the right thing.