Family, friends support proposed law named after murdered Pitt student

Alina Sheykhet's friends and family are honoring her memory by supporting a law that may have saved her life.

Her mom and dad are getting behind this proposed legislation and now fighting for it to be named alina's law.

Paige O'Neil still can't talk about her best friend without crying.

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"I'm just trying to be her voice,” O’neil said.

O’neil was one of three roommates who lived with Sheykhet and were home the night she was murdered.

She and her friends started a petition to get Pennsylvania Senate bill 196 named Alina's Law.

"We're just trying to do everything we can to get everything together and do what we know she would love to see happen,” O’neil said.

The bill would allow civil court judges to require electronic monitoring of PFA defendants if the circumstances seem especially violent.

Sheykhet’s ex-boyfriend, and now murder suspect Matthew Darby, was served with a PFA just a few days before her murder.

Attorney Bob Del Greco was hired by Alina's parents to help them get this bill passed.

"They lost the light and love of their life. Their only daughter, a vibrant, beautiful, talented, educated, wonderful woman,” Del Greco said.

Del Greco told Channel 11 Alina might have been saved if the option of an ankle bracelet was available.

"There were some deficiencies and shortcomings in the system that could have prevented their daughter's death and at this point recognizing that that can't be changed, they've dedicated themselves to see if they can change the system to help others,” Del Greco said.

Alina's family and friends say they'll work tirelessly to get this bill passed. They say Alina would have wanted it.

"She was going to be a physical therapist, she loved helping people. So, I think this is her last way of helping everyone,” Rachel Byger, Sheykhet’s friend said.

Public hearings will take place and Sheykhet’s parents will testify.

A petition online is nearing 2,000 signatures.

Cox Media Group