Family seeks answers after man's death

DAPHNE, Ala. (WALA) - Linda Boyd said the family is struggling to come to grips with her nephew's death. 

"The family for one feels like it's a very senseless act of violence," Boyd said.

Daniel Tuttle was celebrating his 31st birthday with his new wife and a group of friends. Now, one of the friends, Michael Bain, is charged with manslaughter in connection with Tuttle's death.

A picture of the two men in a friendly embrace was taken just hours before police said Tuttle was beaten unconscious outside a Daphne bar.  He died later at the hospital.

Police were called, but when they arrived they were told Tuttle may have been the victim of a hit and run driver. 

"There were people at the bar when our responding officers got on the scene that said that they had seen a dark colored SUV leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. So, that's what initiated the investigation has possibly a traffic fatality, or LSA," Lt. Judson Beedy said.

Police later found out the information was false.

Ryan Tuttle wants justice for his brother.  He's also angry the suspect is out on bond.

"(Bain’s bond was) $10,000 and he paid $1,000.  Still, (a) DUI's is more than that.  There's other stuff (charges) that's more than that. It don't make sense to me," Tuttle said.

Family members said there's a lot more to this that they haven't been told, but they're determined to get some answers.

"We know that our nephew, his brother, my sister's son, has gone to heaven.  That's not an issue with us.  But for us here on earth to move on, we have to have those answers. We just want to know who was involved. What was his last few moments like?" Boyd said.

Tuttle's brother met with detectives Monday, Oct. 22, to try to get some of those answers.

One of things they want to know is whether or not the suspect continued to beat Tuttle after he was unconscious. 

The family is trying to complete funeral arrangements.