Dallas Carter left suicide note before police shot him

July 23, 2008
Suicide note describes a disintegrating life
PINELLAS PARK -- As Dallas Carter prepared to die, he wrote an anguished note describing a life that had unraveled and pleading that his sons be reunited with their mother.

"By the time you get this letter, I will be gone or dead," wrote Carter.

Carter, 44, died Saturday when Pinellas Park police shot him after he turned a pistol and a rifle on them. His death ended a life that was plagued by mental and physical illness, estrangement from his family, loneliness and desperation.

His sons, Christopher, 13, and Shawn, 8, were reunited with their mother, Brenda Fecteau, on Wednesday. Fecteau, who lives in New Gloucester, Maine, was granted custody of the boys Tuesday.
-- Anne Lindberg, Times Staff Writer
Read Carter's full note
http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/07/suicide-note-de.html