An Alabama realtor who was granted a protective order against her husband has been killed by him in a murder-suicide just three weeks after the order was lifted.
As WAAY-TV and WAFF-TV reported, the bodies of 40-year-old Martella Tyler and her 43-year-old husband Justin Tyler were found in their Huntsville, Alabama home last week. The couple, who had been married since 2013, were found by firefighters who extinguished the fire set at their residence. Police have since determined Tyler killed his wife, and then took his own life. The specific cause of death for both has yet to be publicly released.
She filed the protection order against him in February following a violent incident in which he allegedly stomped on and stabbed her. “He punched me, stomped me, stabbed me 3 times in the head, in my left side, and in my face,” she wrote in the protective order application, on which she also detailed why she felt unsafe. “I feel like he has a mental health condition that is untreated and needs to be treated.” Justin was arrested after the incident.
The pair appeared in court together on May 12, where they asked for the protective order to be dismissed. It’s not clear what prompted the request.
The couple is survived by their three daughters, one of whom was at home at the time of the murder-suicide.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched in an effort to help provide for the daughters.
“Martella leaves behind three beautiful daughters who are now without both mother and father," reads the fundraiser. "At, this moment along with prayers, we are asking for donations for these girls. They have a long road ahead of therapy, healing and life ahead. We are hoping to be able to help these girls with school scholarships, living expenses and financial support. Please help in any way you can."
