'Nothing Adds Up': Texas Nurse Shot To Death In Suspected Murder-Suicide

The family of a Texas mother who was fatally shot in a suspected murder-suicide is desperate for answers following her sudden death last month.

Kristen Slack, 45, appeared “happy” and had “praised” her boyfriend, Todd Danhof, in messages to relatives shortly before she was allegedly shot to death by her partner, her children said.

"[She] wanted me to meet him," her eldest son, Christian Gonzales told KSAT-TV. "That is why none of this makes any sense."

Other family members of the Universal City woman said they hadn’t been aware of any pattern of domestic violence in the couple’s relationship.

“Nothing adds up,” Susan Dolgener, Slack’s older sister, told the San Antonio television station. “I don’t think anybody is prepared to ever hear those words, ‘murder-suicide.’ It doesn’t feel like it is real.”

Slack was found dead on the front lawn of the couple’s Schertz home shortly before 7 a.m. on Feb. 27, police said. She’d been shot several times. Witnesses told investigators that Danhof was likely inside the house.

As authorities descended on the residence, a lone gunshot was heard from inside. Danhof’s body was later discovered in the home by a SWAT team. He’d died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to authorities.

Neighbors were evacuated from their homes on the 300 block of Judith Ann Drive during the Saturday incident. No one else is believed to have been involved in the shooting.

Investigators didn’t specify whether the couple was known to local law enforcement. Danhof, 46, doesn’t appear to have a past criminal history, according to county court records. It’s unclear how long the couple may have been dating.

Slack, a mother of five, worked with patients with dementia, her family said. 

"She was a good person," Dolgener added. "She was very caring. She did exceptionally well with Alzheimer's [patients]. She had this voice where she would always say, 'It is ok.'"

Her son described her as “empathetic” and a “people person” who he could talk with about anything.

“[She was] easy to relate to,” Gonzales told KSAT-TV. “It is just terrible because he took her away from all of her children and I feel like crap dealing with it and I can’t imagine how my younger siblings feel.”

Slack is from San Antonio, according to her Facebook profile. The family was preparing funeral arrangements as of last week. 

"You take for granted people in your life," Gonzales added. "You think they are always going to be there and don't think events like this is going to happen. You have to cherish every moment with people because you never know when they will be taken away from you. I have no ill will towards Todd's family. I know they are going to have to live with what he did. We just have to stay strong and be there for each other as we get through this."

An investigation into the alleged murder-suicide is ongoing, authorities said. A spokesperson for the Schertz Police Department didn’t immediately respond to emails about the case on Tuesday.