CALDWELL CO., N.C. -- Police said a man broke into his estranged wife's home in Caldwell County and shot her to death just before killing himself.

Authorities said the wife, Tammy Austin, did everything she could to legally protect herself from her husband.

"My daughter was murdered two hours after this picture was taken," said the victim's mother, Mitzie Logstin.

A photo was taken at a birthday party hours before the shooting. Deputies said Austin, 35, was shot in her home on Sparks Drive, near the town of Hudson in Caldwell County.

According to police, Tammy Austin's estranged husband, Michael Austin, shot and killed her just before killing himself.

Tammy Austin's 4-year-old daughter was inside the home at the time of the shooting. Police said the daughter was in the house for at least an hour with the bodies before she was discovered.

"This should have never happened. How am I going to tell my grandbaby -- 4 years old -- that her momma isn't coming home? She had promised her that would always protect her all her life. How am I going to tell her?" said Logstin.

Family members showed up late Thursday to pick up toys and clothes for the 4-year-old girl.

Investigators said in April, Tammy Austin took out a restraining order against her husband and then a judgment keeping her husband from threatening or harassing her.

Family members said she was doing all she could to end the relationship, but they were still worried.

"If a person is so full of evil that they're intent to kill someone else, a lot of times the system can do very little to protect them. But we do all that we can," said Caldwell County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Tracy Powell.

"She treated everybody right," said the victim's great-aunt Ruby Elder. "She sure didn't deserve this."