Woman Killed Inside Apartment in Taunton, Massachusetts

Authorities are investigating a pair of deaths in Vanessa Courtney, 23, was found slashed or stabbed to death in her apartment

Authorities are investigating the death of a woman found slashed or stabbed in her apartment Monday in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Nikki Clarke is overcome with grief after finding her fiancé, 23-year-old Vannessa Courtney, dead in their Taunton apartment Monday night when she came home from work.

"I knew it, I knew it, I pulled up this way and I seen her car here, I didn't even park my car fully, I knew, I sensed something was wrong," said Clarke. "She never not answered me for seven hours."

Clarke says she had last talked to Courtney at about 10 a.m., but when she failed to show up for a lunch date they had planned, and wasn't answering her phone, Clarke began to panic.

She says when she got home the door to their apartment was unlocked.

"As soon as I opened it, I seen her laying there on the floor, in the bedroom," said Clarke through tears.

Investigators say Courtney had been stabbed and slashed several times. She was declared dead on scene.

"I just want her back," said Clarke. "This wasn't supposed to happen, this was never supposed to happen."

The couple has a 5-year-old son together who was at school all day Monday.

Clarke says Courtney was a barber and part-time dog breeder.

"She was amazing, absolutely amazing, amazing person, and everybody loved her," said Clarke.

Clarke's mother, Sheri Ramos, says her family will not rest until Courtney's killer is found.

"Justice will be served and we will not stop until it is," Ramos said. "This is a strong family and we're not going to let this go."

Police have not made any arrests in this homicide and have not released any information about a possible motive.

Just hours later, the 23-year-old Dominique Scott was found shot to death in a different Taunton apartment. Authorities believe he was one of two armed home invaders and that the homeowner shot and killed him.

The other intruder fled the scene.

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