Two young girls in Elkhart County said goodbye Tuesday to their mother and father.

Police say their mother, 33 year-old Karla Fernandez, was shot and killed by their father, 31 year-old Omar Fernandez, who later shot himself in the head.

It happened around six o-clock Friday night in the 23-hundred block of Parkwood Place.

Neighbors tell us the two girls, ages nine and four, were in the house at the time of the shooting and ran outside asking an adult to call 9-1-1.

Newscenter 16 had a chance to talk to some of Karla's friends both on the scene and over the phone.

They describe Karla as a caring, confident, charismatic person.

It was no secret the couple had some problems, but they never imagined an ending like this.

Police tell us Karla filed a protective order against her husband, an obvious indicator she was afraid of him.

We spoke to a woman who tells us she thanks God everyday that her 13 plus years of living in fear didn't end up deadly.

A 33 year-old woman loses her life. Her young daughters, ages four and nine lose her and their father.

Police say it’s a murder suicide scene--a domestic dispute turned deadly.

Laurie Renbarger says, “It's only by the grace of God that I didn't end up like her and I am thankful every single morning. I wake up and I thank God for my children and my life.”

Renbarger says the scene in Elkhart County at the Fernandez’ home is a sad, shocking reminder of abuse spiraling out of control.

She says, “There was one time, I told God please take my soul to heaven. Even though I thought he was going to kill me, I still went back to him.”

But, break up after break up, they made up. It’s a similar story Karla’s friends share of her relationship with Omar.

Renbarger says on the outside she appeared confident, so do many women who are victims of verbal and-or physical abuse.

Karla's friends say she too was confident. At one point, she demanded her friend get out of an abusive relationship. But, today Karla's friends are here, so is Laurie, but Karla is not.

Laurie says she couldn't live in fear anymore, so she turned to the YWCA.

Laurie says, “These are tears of joy because I'm so grateful to Jesus and God and the YWCA for a safe place to come to and for giving me classes and the courage to love myself.”

YWCA directors in South Bend last year alone say they housed 1,077 women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

They see all ages, all walks of life, and all personality traits. They say some are extremely shy and others appear very confident and happy on the outside.

The YWCA encourages victims who are living fear to call for help any time of the day.

The number is 866-YES-YWCA