Leslie Lynn Hartman, 46, was found dead August 26, 2020, in Denton, Texas. Paralyzed and a wheelchair user, she died of a gunshot wound. Her boyfriend, sheriff’s deputy Jay Allen Rotter, initially told 911 and officers that Leslie had shot herself with his service weapon while they were hugging and watching television on his computer. Officers found her body on the floor beside the wheelchair and blood in multiple areas of the home and on Rotter.

Investigators uncovered text messages that raised questions about Rotter’s account. In one message he wrote to a chatroom, I just sent a 9 millie in this f---in hippie, which detectives believed referenced Leslie. Rotter also reset his phone to factory settings while alone in the interrogation room; police later seized the couple’s phone and computer. Leslie had exchanged messages indicating occasional suicidal thoughts, but friends and several witnesses testified she would not have killed herself.

Rotter was arrested and charged with murder and evidence tampering; his defense argued Leslie had become suicidal after her mother’s cancer diagnosis. Rotter was convicted of Leslie’s murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Anyone who knew Leslie or has information about her last days is asked to share what they know.