Families Speak Out After Tulsa Mother Murdered

By Lori Fullbright, News on 6 

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa Police are asking for tips in the case of a mother murdered Thursday in her home.

Her husband has been arrested for violating a protective order and police have asked him to be held on a one million dollar bond while they investigate him as a suspect. 

10/14/2010 Related Story: Husband Of Murdered Tulsa Woman Arrested For Violation Of Protective Order

The families of Laroye and Damesha Hunter are both angry, in shock and grieving, but, on very different sides when it comes to who's at fault.

Damesha Hunter was a woman in her 30's who was raising four children, 16, 10, 6 and 4. She comes from a big, close-knit family.

"She was a great person, she loved her family," said Rochika Lee, Damesha's sister.

Her family knew her relationship with Laroye had been a struggle, with allegations of abuse and a protective order filed in March, just three months after they got married. But the couple was still living together and had even tried marriage counseling.

"She tried to make it work, but, she did know it was not a good situation for her to be in. She really struggled with that because she loved the person," said Damesha's cousin Nakita Willis.

Laroye told police he was at work, talking to Damesha on the phone, when she said someone was at the door. When she didn't return to the phone, he says he went home and found her shot to death.

"I know my brother didn't do it, I know that," said Labelle Hunter, Laroye's brother.

His family says Laroye loved Damesha and treated her children like his own, taking them to football practices and attending their games.

"They feel like the information about his past violence is making him look like a killer, which they don't believe he is."My brother done changed a lot, changed a whole lot," Hunter said.

Damesha's family says they had planned to meet with her this Saturday, to convince her to leave the marriage, but, now she is gone forever.

"I just want people to know she's not just a number, another death. She's a mother, a sister, a cousin, and daughter, and she has a family that loves her," Willis said.

Police are asking anyone who saw a 2003 Dodge Intrepid in northeast Tulsa Thursday between 8 and 10 a.m. to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Damesha's family is now planning her funeral and taking care of her children.