Larissa's Story

Meet a huge driving force behind the podcast we know now as The Lion's Den.

Some people walk into your life and leave you better.
Larissa Barros was one of those people.

Larissa wasn’t a headline to us. She was a daughter, a friend, a mother, a teammate, someone who had the kind of presence that made you feel like life was still worth chasing. She played basketball with Edison’s sister and for a long time they were inseparable with Larissa even becoming a family friend. The kind of bond where you don’t even need words, you just know each other.

Larissa had that rare mix: charisma and discipline.
The kind of intelligence that didn’t make her cold, just focused. The kind of drive that didn’t make her arrogant, just determined. She was the type of young woman who carried herself like she already knew she was built for more.

And she was.

She was an exceptional student, ranked at the top of her class, and had a full-ride scholarship to Florida State University. She was walking toward graduation with momentum in her hands… and a future that should’ve been hers.

But Larissa never got to cross that stage.

She was taken from this world in May of 2017, murdered by someone who once claimed to love her... the father of her child. And it shattered everything.

Not just because of what happened… but because of what it proved.

The Truth People Don’t Want to Admit

Abuse doesn’t always look like abuse at first.

Sometimes it looks like:

  • “I just care about you.”

  • “I don’t trust your friends.”

  • “You’re always making me look like the bad guy.”

  • “Why are you acting different? Who are you talking to?”

  • “If you leave, you’ll regret it.”

It starts like a slow fog. Confusing. Draining. Disorienting.
And over time it rewires you until you can’t tell the difference between love and pressure.

Larissa’s story is the painful proof that emotional abuse and control are not “relationship drama.” They’re not a phase. They’re not a communication issue.

Control is a warning sign.
And when someone feels like they’re losing control over you, that’s often when things escalate.

Who Larissa Was

Larissa was the kind of person who did not fold under pressure.

She was young, but she carried strength like it was in her DNA. She was smart enough to build a future, brave enough to keep pushing, and real enough to be human while doing it. She wasn’t perfect, she was powerful. The type of powerful you can’t fake.

And what makes her story even heavier is this:

Larissa was the type of woman people assume would be “too strong” for something like this to happen to.

That’s the lie abuse depends on.

Abuse doesn’t target weakness.
It targets good hearts, hopeful minds, and people who believe in love.

Why We Tell Her Story

Because Larissa deserves more than silence.

And because we made a promise:
Her name will not be reduced to a statistic.

Larissa is one of the biggest reasons The Lion’s Den exists.

We don’t do this to go viral.
We don’t do this for "clout".
We do this because we’ve seen what happens when people ignore patterns until it’s too late.

We do this because we've seen what happens when people's voices get ignored until it's too late... Like Larissa's.

We do this so someone reading this, right now, can pause and finally say:

“Wait… this isn’t love. This is control.”

What We Want You To Hear

If your relationship is making you feel:

  • confused more than loved

  • afraid to speak

  • like you’re “walking on eggshells”

  • like your emotions are always the problem

  • like you’re constantly trying to prove you’re not crazy

That’s not normal.
That’s not passion.
That’s not “just how they are.”

That’s a pattern.

And patterns don’t improve with patience.
They improve with boundaries, distance, and safety.

Larissa’s legacy is our why.
And your safety is the reason we refuse to be quiet.

Larissa, we will carry your name forever.
And to anyone reading this: you deserve a love that doesn’t cost you your mind, your voice, or your life.

If You Need Help

If you’re in an abusive relationship, or even suspect you are, please don’t do this alone.

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline (US): 800-799-7233

  • Text: “START” to 88788

  • If you’re in immediate danger: call 911

  • If you’re feeling hopeless or suicidal: call/text 988

You are not weak for staying.
You are not stupid for loving someone.
You are not crazy for feeling confused.

You’re waking up.

We love you Larissa.