Woman Marine Killed; Tustin Police to Charge Wounded Husband With Murder

A distraught Marine shot and killed his estranged wife and critically wounded himself late Sunday at a Tustin apartment complex, police said.

Tustin Police Detective Mark Bergquist said Frances Tanniehill, 25, died after she was shot several times in the chest during an argument with her husband, Horace Tanniehill, 26, at the apartment complex in the 15400 block of Pasadena Avenue.

Tenants said the woman, also a Marine, was shot after her husband beat her with his fists and chased her through the complex.

At least five shots were fired, awakening dozens of tenants of the Pasadena Village complex who were asleep or dozing about 10:30 p.m., when many said they heard “popping noises” in a rear parking lot.

“We’ve never had anything like this happen around here,” said resident Wendell Cook.

In Critical Condition

Horace Tanniehill was found across the street from the apartment complex with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the right abdomen. He was listed in critical condition Monday at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana.

The woman was pronounced dead on arrival at the medical center, a spokesman said.

Murder charges are expected to be filed against the husband today, Bergquist said.

The couple, originally from Dallas, were married in July, 1982. They had been stationed in El Toro since December, 1984, a Marine spokesman said. Frances Tanniehill was a corporal in a communications squadron and Horace Tanniehill a sergeant in the service support group.

Police, friends and neighbors said the couple had a history of marital problems and had separated about two months ago. Frances Tanniehill had retained custody of their 13-month-old son, Adam Christopher.

The child, who was unharmed, was taken to the Orangewood Home in Orange for protective custody, pending placement with relatives.

Last week, after the couple began divorce proceedings, Mrs. Tanniehill obtained a temporary restraining order in Orange County Superior Court to bar her estranged husband from “harassing” her and the child, police said.

New Tenant

Friends said Frances Tanniehill moved into the apartment complex just three weeks ago, “to get away from” her husband. She was described by friends as a young mother who lived in an emotional world of highs and lows and was afraid of beginning any new relationships with men because of her husband’s emotional state.

“She was very friendly,” recalled Shelly Heller, 26, a next-door neighbor. “She was just a nice person.”

During an interview Monday, Heller said that in the short time that Mrs. Tanniehill lived there she became friendly with Heller and Heller’s 8-year-old daughter, Heather.

“She had Heather come over one time for a visit and she wanted Heather to spend the night with her. She was taken by Heather. She told me that my daughter could come over any time. She loved her.”

Heller and others who became acquainted with Mrs. Tanniehill said she told them she feared her husband, described as about 6 feet tall and very muscular.

“She told me that if I ever heard her having a fight or heard her screaming, to call the police immediately,” Heller said. “The ironic part is that I wasn’t here or else I would have helped her anyway I could.”

“I never got to call police for her,” Heller said.

A memorial service for Frances Tanniehill will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the El Toro base chapel, a Marine spokeswoman said.