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In February, Victoria Mendoza posted a confession to Facebook: "I really am on my worst behavior."

That was eight months before, Ogden police say, she stabbed her partner, 21-year-old Tawnee Maria Baird, to death in a parking lot.

Family members told The Salt Lake Tribune late Saturday that Mendoza had been abusing Baird, and Baird wanted out of the relationship.

"I'm a little pissed off at myself for not separating those two. I knew deep down in my soul there was something wrong," said Baird's father, Casey Baird, who flew back from a business trip on Saturday after hearing the news. "[Mendoza] was a lost little girl. But now I'm going to make sure she'll never again see the light of day. She took my one and only girl."

Mendoza, 22, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of first-degree felony murder at about 1 a.m. in a parking lot at 2484 E Ave. in Ogden.

Baird was dead when first responders arrived, according to a news release from Ogden police.

The two women had been living together as domestic partners in Holladay for years. On Friday night, they traveled north to visit friends.

Police believe the two had an argument that escalated to violence, but officials declined to specify what the fight was about. The argument allegedly began as they were driving, Lt. Tim Scott said, and culminated in the parking lot.

An autopsy was expected to be conducted Sunday.

"Tawnee was outgoing, always joking around," her father said. "She was a great girl. She was my everything."

Mendoza allegedly called a member of her family after she stabbed Baird with a knife, prompting that family member to call police and report the attack.

Scott said the woman was cooperating with police after being taken into custody.

Ogden investigators were working with Unified Police to document any history of domestic violence or abuse in the women's relationship. But family members said Saturday that Mendoza had been abusing Baird for months.

"[Baird] was afraid Victoria would do something terrible if she left her," Baird's stepmother, Becca Murray, wrote in an email. "So she took the abuse, the beatings, and lived in terror, afraid for her life, just to avoid something bad.

"She pretended to be happy and love her, but she confided in me how bad she wanted Victoria out of her life, and she tried on several occasions with bad results."

A search of Utah court records revealed no criminal history for Mendoza.

Casey Baird said the young women had both recently gotten new jobs — Mendoza was going to be a security guard. He helped her pay for her uniform and badge, he said. He thought things were looking up.

"They just got their jobs and were so excited," he said. "And now this. It's absolutely crazy."

Police encouraged others whose family or friends may be in abusive relationships to notify authorities.

"If anyone knows of any family members or friends involved in a violent or tumultuous relationship," Scott said, "we ask that they seek help and notify police before it escalates to this level."

mlang@sltrib.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae