CNN has some more information. In NJ, children aren't considered emancipated when they turn 18; her parents are still legally financially responsible for her. The first round of claims was denied on the basis that she's not in any kind of emergency where she would need funding right away, and the high school has agreed to cover her tuition, so tuition reimbursement from the parents is unnecessary. The parents have been investigated for abuse before, though nothing came of it. Another family (not her boyfriend's parents) felt her abuse claims were substantial enough that they are housing her and paying her legal fees. To me, that raises some questions.
The most interesting issue in all this for me, is if she's had a college fund set aside for her her entire life, can her parents decide to keep it at the last minute (a semester before attending college) because she's breaking house rules?
I'm hesitant to say anything either way. It sounds like the parents weren't doing anything wrong, but I've seen enough abusive, narcissistic parents who presented a good front that I wouldn't feel comfortable forming an opinion.