High School Grad Killed After Dumping Her Boyfriend: The Murder of Lauren Astley

Lauren Dunne Astley was 18 years old and had her whole life ahead of her. In the fall of 2011 she was planning on attending Elon University for college, but not before spending her last summer at home in Massachusetts with her friends. But that all changed on July 3rd, 2011, when Nathaniel Fujita, her recent ex-boyfriend, str*ngled her to death in his garage. His motive? Their breakup. On March 7, 2013, he was found guilty and convicted of first-degree murder. Amidst this tragedy, Lauren’s parents have dedicated their lives to educating teenagers about the dangers of breakup violence and have traveled all around to promote their non-profit, The Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund, which seeks to bring awareness to breakup violence, and promote education surrounding the matter.

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Time Stamps:
0:00 Babbel
1:25 - Hello Everyone! Case Introduction
4:07 - Background
8:07 - Nathaniel Fujita & Lauren's Relationship
12:58 - Lauren Goes Missing...
16:21 - Lauren Is Found
17:48 - Evidence & Arrest
22:42 - Hearings & Trial
29:33 - Verdict
32:28 - Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund
38:39 - Change In Sentence?
39:58 - Case Wrap Up

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Key Sources:

Creator hosts a documentary series for education purposes (EDSA). These include authoritative sources such as interviews, newspaper articles, and TV news reporting meant to educate and memorialize notable cases in our history. Videos come with editorial context added bolstering educational and artistic value.

[davyrantucci]

My daughter’s high school had a program about dating and break up violence. So happy they offered that to the students!

[Lady_Zelda]

Her dad giving his parents a hug, broke me. What a human.

[ms.ketchum]

“She will never be called mom or mommy again” broke me. Lauren’s parents are absolutely amazing for advocating towards prevention and helping others. Lauren’s memory will live on. What a selfish disgusting human being he is for taking that beautiful girl full of potential and a whole life ahead of her away from the world. Hugging my child extra tight.

[jessicarafanan]

As a mom to one child, hearing Lauren’s mom say she will never be called mom or mommy again BROKE ME. I will 1000% be educating my daughter and whoever she dates on this topic. I was never taught this and it never even crossed my mind. Even coming from a physically violent relationship at a young age, it never crossed my mind how important this is. Thank you for sharing her story.

[erickarae]

I brought my roommate with me to break up with an ex in college. He tried to make me feel bad about it but I felt more comfortable with her there. It’s stories like this that make me glad I did

[amandab]

What stuck with me since I was a teen was: When you think ‘I can’t live without you’, remember you were living before you met them..

[madisonbaker]

His mom asking Lauren to talk to him is so wildly in appropriate. No matter what's happening to your child, it's not another kids responsibility to help them.

[Crufo]

I’m a teacher in Ma. and have not heard of this case. I’m definitely going to reach out to her parents/foundation and bring this program to my daughter’s high school !

[KITTY]

"Approximately 75% of women who are killed by their batterers are murdered when they attempt to leave or after they have left an abusive relationship." With numbers like that it's ASTONISHING that all schools are not educating our youth on this subject.

[DaSparky]

This happened to my high school friend. Shortly after graduation, she broke up with her boyfriend. She went missing. Her mother was reaching out to everyone trying to find her. Eventually, someone sent her a news link.
The police found a body with her tattoo and she needed to be identified.

He killed her, put her in the trunk of her own car for days using her cards and spending her money before dumping her like she was nothing.

Her name is Laura Hunt. Plant City, Florida.

[amandarae]

I’ve been diagnosed clinical depressed since the age of 12, depression does not make you commit murder

[tana]

I watched this case years ago. Although I don’t remember everything, I remember Lauren’s compassion, which she probably got from her dad. The absolute grace of that man to console the parents of his daughter’s killer and to view it as them losing their child too. I have no words.

[AnsiraMusic]

You’re such a baby when you’re finishing high school. No one’s life should end when it’s only just beginning.

[phepher-lz]

My cousin was one of her close friends and was waiting for her to come and hang out on the night she was killed. It’s still a hard day for their group of friends. She ended up becoming a lawyer in Boston because of what happened to Lauren

[sarahgilkerson]

My HS age daughter came in while I was watching and said that they just went over breakup violence in her Teen Issues class a few days ago. In listening a little longer it turns out they watched a video of Lauren's parents speaking. ❤

[Lyrical]

The amount of empathy in her father…the fact that his programme not only educates potential victims about warning signs, but it also provides support to would-be perpetrators and attempts to show them compassion, so they don’t turn disillusioned and go on to commit violence. It’s truly inspiring and I’m not sure I could be as gracious as he’s been

[nicoles]

The fact that Lauren's parents are thinking about his parents & other victims during the worst chapter of their lives is so inspiring. Thanks for speaking on domestic & breakup violence.

[AcidCasper]

Lauren’s father said in an interview that he feels the senior year of summer can be dangerous as couples can face break ups at that time. (Going off to college or university.) A very frightening thought & it is so sad that any relationship can end like this, but a high school one at that.

[emilybunny_beauty]

My first break up in high school was literally a period of grief for me. I couldn’t talk to anyone about it without crying. Looking back I don’t know why I was so affected by it but it affects people differently and we aren’t prepared for it as teenagers. Kudos to her parents for seeing this gap in our society

[kylee]

It never ceases to amaze me when parents lose a child and go on to turn their pain and grief into something so important and helpful to society. That type of strength is one I hope I’ll never have to experience.