AWOL Marine Is Lone Suspect in Slaying

Patricia Blanding and Keith Wroten were both El Toro Marines with clean service records, police say, but he is now sought as a suspect in her murder.

Blanding, 27, a Marine sergeant, was last seen Monday as she returned to her Tustin apartment with Wroten, 25, a corporal.

The next day, she was found stabbed to death in her apartment. Police are seeking Wroten for questioning and say that because of the circumstances, he’s their only suspect.

“Typically, a Marine in good standing doesn’t go AWOL,” Police Lt. Michael Shanahan said.

Wroten may be driving a 1994 GMC Sonoma pickup truck with Kansas license plates KVB 786, police said.

Marine spokesman Capt. Arnoux Abraham said that Blanding and Wroten were both assigned to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, where she was a maintenance management clerk and he worked in supply.

He said that Blanding had been in the service nine years, Wroten about seven.

They had been dating about a year, and neighbor Marta Lowe said she saw them coming up the stairs Monday afternoon carrying a new stereo. About 3 a.m. Tuesday, she was awakened by pounding on the wall of Blanding’s apartment across the hall, then heard someone leave, Lowe said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Tustin Police Det. Tom Tarpley at (714) 573-3247.

Times staff writer H.G. Reza contributed to this report.