A woman who was convicted for trying to hire a hitman to murder her estranged husband has been found dead outside a bar in California.
A Tragic Discovery in Little Italy
Tatyana Remley, 44, was discovered outside the Princess Pub & Grille in San Diego's Little Italy neighbourhood shortly before 9pm on December 18. Authorities have confirmed they are investigating the death, which they stated appears to be a suicide. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner later confirmed that Remley died from a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead at 9.02pm. No one else was injured in the incident.
A Fateful Final Phone Call
In a chilling twist, Remley's estranged husband, Mark Remley, revealed she had called him just hours before her body was found. He said she FaceTimed him from a bathroom stall at the bar around 7pm, complaining about a man she was with.
"She told me, 'I'm with this guy and he's being a jerk,'" Mark recounted. "I told her to just leave. I told her, 'Do you have this, because I can send help if you need it. I can call 911 if you're in trouble.'"
He said she answered, "No, I got this," before hanging up. That was their last conversation. When Mark did not hear from her the following day, he reported her missing, only to later be informed she had taken her own life.
A Troubled Legal History
Remley's death follows a dramatic and troubled legal past. Last year, she pleaded guilty to soliciting a hitman to murder her husband after investigators staged a sting operation involving an undercover detective.
She was sentenced to more than three years in prison but served approximately one year before being released. Her legal troubles continued, however, as she was later arrested again on arson charges and was due back in court in March 2026.
Despite her guilty plea, Remley had previously denied wanting her husband killed. In a taped deposition, she told Mark, "If someone is hiring a hitman … why would they bring a gun to the scene, Mark." She later claimed the gun was for a different purpose: "It was to kill myself. And not to actually shoot myself, as in, I will pull the gun out and the cops will shoot me."
Aftermath and Arrangements
Mark Remley said he had remained in contact with Tatyana following her release from prison and believed they were close to finalising their divorce. He expressed shock at the outcome.
"I tried so many times to get her help because I saw her struggle with life throughout our marriage," he said. "I did not see this coming."
Mark added that he is now in contact with the fathers of Remley's children to discuss arrangements. "They have the very difficult task to tell the children that their mom is gone now," he stated.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, support is available. The Samaritans can be contacted 24/7 by calling 116 123, emailing jo@samaritans.org, or visiting their website to find your nearest branch.
