AURORA, Colo. – Police are asking the public to provide tips to help find the man accused of killing recent Eaglecrest High School graduate Alexandrea “Ally” Raber.

An arrest warrant has been issued for 20-year-old Arturo “Art” Garcia, who stands accused of strangling Raber.

The 18-year-old homicide victim was preparing to serve in the U.S. Navy, according to family members.

Raber was found dead on Sunday morning inside the Knights Inn Motel on Sixth Avenue near Interstate 225 in Aurora. Family members said Garcia was Raber’s former boyfriend.

“There had been some previous assault charges where [Garcia] had tried to choke her and then threaten her,” Raber’s stepfather Andy Starrett said.

Starrett and other family members are calling on Garcia to surrender.

Loved ones said there are many things they will miss about Raber. They said her smile, laugh and sense of humor will top the list.

“Her laughter, it was just infectious,” Raber’s mom Tiffany Starrett said. “She was a jokester. She loved to dish it and she was good with taking it.”

The family is focused on finding Garcia. Their calls for help to bring the accused killer to justice are growing louder as Garcia’s booking photo from a previous arrest is being circulated on social media.

Andy Starrett said he wants the story to not only help police. He’s hoping it will speak to other young women trying to escape abusive relationships.

“Do what you can to get out of that situation so you don’t end up like our daughter did,” he said.

Garcia has ties to El Paso, Texas, according to Raber’s family.

Anyone with information is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

Editor’s note: FOX31 reporter Michael Konopasek is a cousin of Ally Raber’s stepfather Andy Starrett.