Two years after the body of Lacey Jones-McKnight was located in the trunk of a car, Lacey’s mother, friends and other family members gathered at Olympic Plaza to bring attention to an issue which continues to plague society, domestic violence.

Lacey’s ex-fiance, Kristopher (Tray) Guenther, faces a first degree murder charge in connection to the October 25, 2012 death.

According to family members, Lacey’s death was a preventable outcome which followed a number of violent encounters escalating in severity.

Shelly Jones, Lacey’s mother, is steadfast in her belief that her daughter would still be alive today if members of the Calgary Police Service had been more thorough in their investigation of multiple calls to 911 originating from the family’s home.

Police responded to the residence six times in the weeks prior to Lacey’s murder.

“It would only have taken one officer to save Lacey’s life,” said Jones in an interview with CTV.

A recording of a 911 call, placed by Shelly Jones three weeks before Lacey’s death, spoke to the volatility of the situation.

911 Dispatcher: Where is your daughter?

Shelly Jones: She's upstairs with him.

Dispatcher: Is she safe?

Shelly Jones: I don't know I'm trying to find them.

A short time later, Shelly Jones and her daughter barricaded themselves in a room.

Shelly Jones: Okay, we've locked ourselves upstairs and he's gone down.

Dispatcher: Okay I want you to stay upstairs, lock that door.

No charges were laid in connection to the events of October 3, 2012, and Shelly Jones says the terrifying ordeal was not accurately portrayed in the police report.

“It wasn't just a distortion of the facts, they were outright lies,” explains Shelly Jones. “They changed, completely changed, the whole situation and it looks to me like it was to avoid following the protocols, doing the paperwork, doing an investigation.”

Shelly Jones wants an investigation conducted into the actions/inaction of the responding officers.

Officials with the Calgary Police Service say an investigation will not begin until after Kristopher Guenther’s trial, which is scheduled to begin on February 17, 2015.

“These officers are still out there,” said Shelly Jones. “Their conduct has not been investigated.  Have they since gone to domestic violence incidents?”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, Brigitte Baradoi of Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society says the best thing to do is to call one of Calgary’s three women’s shelters. 

“I think it’s common for people to want to call the police because they see what’s in the relationship what’s happening, it’s wrong, it’s illegal, it’s assault, it shouldn’t happen,” said Baradoi. “It’s a good place to start if you want legal action or police protective action, that’s who you call, but if you’re an individual woman who is experiencing domestic violence and you need support and information for yourself, or for your friend, then I would say call the experts in domestic violence and that would be a woman’s emergency shelter.”

Baradoi urges victims of domestic violence to call a shelter, even if they're not ready to leave the situation. 

The three shelters operate 24-hour crisis lines staffed with experts in domestic violence who can offer strategies and resources.

Calgary Women’s Shelter

  • 24 Hour Family Violence Helpline: (403) 234-SAFE (7233) or 1-866-606-7233

YWCA Sheriff King Home

  • 24 Hour Crisis Line: (403) 266-0707

Awo Taan Healing Lodge

  • 24 Hour Crisis Line: (403) 531-1972 or (403) 531-1976

Discovery House’s annual fundraiser, the Purple Heart Gala, is November 4th at Hotel Arts.  For more information, visit Discovery House

With files from CTV's Bridget Brown