Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and wife Mary Kennedy had a turbulent relationship long before she committed suicide, and  just-revealed 911 records show that cops had to repeatedly calm things down.

Police reports obtained by the NY Daily News show the estranged couple called 911 over a dozen times in the last few years ... most notably in May of 2011, around the time RFK went public with his new love interest -- actress Cheryl Hines.

In one incident Bedford cops found the couple outside in the midst of a "domestic disturbance" with "books and papers strewn about the area." Three hours later police returned again to find RFK locked out of his house.

Just a few months prior police were summoned to the home while Mary Kennedy was having an "emotional breakdown" ... the officer on scene said he found RFK in his bedroom trying to calm Mary down. 

There are at least a dozen other 911 calls cited in the reports which required police presence at the couple's Westchester home.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is ADAMANT the suicide of his wife -- Mary Richardson Kennedy -- was not his fault ... but apparently Mary's siblings aren't buying it.

During Mary's funeral -- held Saturday at St. Patrick's Church in Bedford -- RFK Jr. publicly proclaimed that a friend told him not to blame himself for Mary's death, saying, "I know I did everything I could to help her."

The memorial -- which was boycotted by Mary's 6 siblings -- came just one day after a colossal legal battle erupted between RFK Jr. and Mary's biological family -- each side wanted to claim Mary's body for burial.

RFK Jr. won the battle courtesy of a judge  ...  which allowed him to retrieve Mary's body from the medical examiner -- just hours before the wake.

Mary hanged herself Wednesday.  She was 52.

A day after his estranged wife reportedly hanged herself at her New York home, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed up at the property, looking distressed.

As we reported, the Westchester County medical examiner claims 52-year-old Mary Kennedy died yesterday as a result of asphyxiation due to hanging at her Mount Kisco home. The medical examiner hasn't specified suicide, but it's being widely reported Mary killed herself.

Mary and RFK Jr. were married in 1994. RFK Jr. filed for divorce sixteen years later in 2010. He's currently rumored to be dating actress Cheryl Hines.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s estranged wife Mary Kennedy died yesterday as a result of asphyxiation by hanging -- this according to the Westchester County medical examiner.

The medical examiner does NOT mention the word "suicide" -- though it's being widely reported ... Mary killed herself.

Mary's body was found yesterday afternoon at her home in Bedford, New York . She was already dead by the time police arrived at the home.

According to the Bedford Police Department, officers responded to Mary's home to investigate a possible "unattended death," meaning no one witnessed it.

Mary Kennedy was legally married to her estranged husband Robert Kennedy Jr. at the time of her death ... TMZ has learned.

RFK Jr. had filed for divorce back in 2010 ... but according to court records, the divorce proceedings were still in progress ... and the judge had NOT yet finalized the split.

In fact, court records show in March the divorce case was headed to trial ... though it's unclear what issues were still in dispute. FYI -- the couple had 4 children together.

But Mary's legal problems didn't end there -- on April 30, just two weeks before she died, Mary was served with a lawsuit filed by American Express ... though the details surrounding the case are unclear.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s estranged wife has died.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, 52-year-old Mary Kennedy was found dead in her Mount Kisco, New York home this afternoon.

The Bedford Police Department responded to the scene at approximately 1:36pm to investigate a possible "unattended death," meaning the death was not witnessed by anyone.

Mary and RFK Jr. were married in 1994. Robert filed for divorce in May 2010. Mary was Robert's second wife. The couple has four children together.

There are reports Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is currently dating actress Cheryl Hines.


Three days after Robert filed divorce papers in 2010, Mary was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

A spokesperson for Mary's family just released a statement, claiming, “We  deeply regret the death of our beloved sister Mary, whose radiant and creative spirit will be sorely missed by those who loved her. Our heart goes out to  her children who she loved without reservation."