Tammie Erwin, Civilian, California

April 15, 1989: Tammie Erwin, 18, Palm Springs, California

Marine veteran Andrew Urdiales is accused of murdering eight women from 1986 to 1996, five in California and three in Illinois, and raping and abducting 19 year old Jennifer Asbenson who escaped and survived. Urdiales was indicted for three murders in Illinois and was sentenced to death but the death sentence was commuted after Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois abolished capital punishment in 2011. Instead he received three life sentences for the murders of Laura Uylaki, Cassandra Corum, and Lynn Huber. A gun confiscated in a separate incident linked the three murders in Illinois together and during an interrogation, Urdiales admitted in detail to five cold case murders in California too.

After years of legal wrangling, Urdiales was eventually extradited to California and indicted in 2009 on five counts of first degree murder. He was accused of killing Robbin Brandley, Julie McGhee, Mary Ann Wells, Tammie Erwin, and Denise Maney while stationed at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base. On May 23, 2018, Andrew Urdiales was convicted of five murders by a jury that deliberated for about a day before recommending in June 2018 that he be sentenced to death for each of the five murders. On November 2, 2018, corrections officials said they found Urdiales unresponsive during a security check at San Quentin State Prison; former Marine and serial killer Andrew Urdiales died by suicide.

In the News:

The murders occurred when Andrew Urdiales was stationed at various Marine Corps facilities in Southern California. -CBS Los Angeles (October 5, 2018)

Related Links:
48 Hours Mystery: Escape from a Serial Killer
State of Illinois vs. Andrew Urdiales (2007)
OC goes after Illinois serial killer suspect
Serial Killer Wanted for Trial in Saddleback Slayings
Former Pendleton Marine Turned Serial Killer To Be Charged With SoCal Murders
Serial killer charged with 5 murders in SoCal
Triple killer charged in five California murders
Serial killer to face charges in 5 deaths in Southern California
Illinois convict faces charges in 5 California deaths
OCDA finally charges murderer responsible for 1986 Saddleback stabbing
Andrew Urdiales, Serial Killer, Extradited to OC For Killing Saddleback College Student Robbin Brandley
Ex-Marine accused in deaths of 5 Southern Calif. women to be extradited
Ex-Marine indicted in serial murders of five women in California
California Seeks Death for Chicago Serial Killer
Serial Killer’s Brother Called to Testify at California Murder Trial
Ex-Marine Andrew Urdiales Sentenced to Death for California Serial Killings
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales sentenced to death in murders of 5 women in Southern California
Ex-Marine Serial Killer Who Slayed 5 SoCal Women Gets Death Penalty
Andrew Urdiales: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales was a monster masquerading as a marine who nearly got away with murder
Serial killer Andrew Urdiales dies of possible suicide on San Quentin’s death row
Ex-Marine Turned Notorious Serial Killer Commits Suicide On Death Row
‘Eyes of the devil’: Serial killer and mass murderer take own lives on death row
Two death row killers die in apparent suicides over weekend, San Quentin officials say
2 serial killers found dead within hours on California’s death row
24 Years After Encounter With Serial Killer, Woman Still Seeks Justice
10 Killers Who Targeted College Women
Near-victim of serial killer recalls years of struggle after her attack
Timeline: A look back at the Andrew Urdiales murders
Violent Crime, Non Combat Death, and Suicide at Camp Pendleton, California (USMC)
Honoring the Victims of Serial Killer Andrew Urdiales, US Marine Corps, in California and Illinois (1986-1996)
Convicted Serial Killer Andrew Urdiales Died by Suicide in Prison; Found Guilty of 8 Murders in Illinois & California, Sentenced to Death (November 2, 2018)
David Wohl interviews the only survivor of an attack by a confessed serial killer: Part 1
David Wohl interviews the one survivor of serial killer Andrew Urdiales: Part 2