One of those people was Aaron Land's best friend, Joe Berlucchi of Philadelphia. Joe and Aaron went to school together at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Even though Berlucchi knew both men well, Land and he were inseparable in college.

The tragic event of May 31, 1999, not only took his best friend, it also opened other doors in his life that changed it forever.

Berlucchi and his college friends are closer than ever because of this event, he said.

"I don't think any of us would have gotten through it without having our group of friends and being able to rely on each other and it's a bond that we still have today, Berlucchi said. "We just had the 10 year reunion. We had about 60 people get together and tell stories and have a great time.

"There's a group of us where we share that in common that no one else shares this incredibly tragic situation that we all went through at a very young age. That's the thing at the time: We didn't realize how young were were. We were 18, 19and 20 years old and having to deal with a murder, a senseless murder. But the bond is still there. It will be for the rest of our lives. I'm positive of that."

The killing brought Berlucchi, face-to-face with Land's mom, and because of their new friendship, Berlucchi met his wife, Nicole.

Today, the couple has daughter, Layla.