DALLAS — Family and friends of Dallas police Officer Larry Tuttle say they are trying to set the record straight.
They say Tuttle was not abusive, and was killed by a woman who was mentally unstable.
Otto Thomas left journals detailing bizarre behavior, and News 8 has uncovered new documents about her history.
From the journals, you can see Thomas' life was out of control and spiraling down quickly.
"You can tell by the events she is writing about, some days she seemed clear-headed and some days she seemed angry and kind of talking in circles," said Danielle Richardson, Tuttle's sister-in-law.
Thomas shot and killed Tuttle, then killed herself at her Dallas apartment on February 7. Thomas' 6-year-old daughter was there as the murder-suicide took place.
Thomas told a 911 operator that Tuttle was abusing her, but family and friends say he was the victim.
"She took her last breath and Larry took his last breath, but based off the things we found, she was very disturbed," Richardson said.
Richardson said her sister and Tuttle were separated, but close. Richardson found the journals.
She said they make it clear Otto Thomas was desperate, and that she rambled about being homeless, needing money, and raising a disabled daughter.
"Moving from city-to-city, living in her car, having a disabled child... and she was on several medications," Richardson said. "I think she lost track of reality."
News 8 has also obtained a police report from Converse, Texas. Police there say in 2012, Thomas' 15-year-old son "…committed suicide by shooting himself in the head," while his then-four-year-old sister was in the same apartment.
Tuttle's family said the officer was trying to help Thomas and had let her move into the apartment, but was about to evict her.
Thomas' final journal entry was made on the day of the shootings. "That day, she wrote she needed to do something fast," Richardson said.
Tuttle's family insists he was a loving father, a dedicated officer, and a good friend. They say he died befriending and helping the wrong person.
