A California equestrian who was convicted in a plot to have her estranged husband killed died by suicide earlier this month, the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed, closing a case that drew national attention for its dramatic mix of wealth, violence allegations, and prolonged legal battles.
Tatyana Remley, 44, died Dec. 18 from a gunshot wound to the head. The medical examiner’s office ruled her death a suicide. Authorities said no one else was involved, and no other injuries occurred.
Remley had been convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving her estranged husband, Mark Remley, after an investigation that began in San Diego County in 2023. According to NBC San Diego, Remley pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit murder and was sentenced to three years and eight months in state prison. She was released before completing the full sentence.
Prosecutors said Remley tried to arrange her husband’s killing during their separation. Law enforcement conducted a sting operation and arrested her after she met with an undercover officer and offered to pay for her husband’s murder, PEOPLE reported.
The investigation began after a house fire at the couple’s ranch property in Del Mar, an unincorporated area of San Diego County north of the city. On the day of the fire, deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said an arson unit was dispatched to the scene. That same day, Remley was arrested on firearms-related charges after deputies said they discovered three firearms and ammunition in her possession.
The day after the fire and initial arrest, investigators said they received information suggesting Remley was attempting to hire someone to murder her husband. The sheriff’s department later accused her of providing detailed instructions regarding the alleged killing.
“She gave detailed instructions on how to kill her husband and dispose of his body,” the department stated. Authorities also said Remley brought firearms and US currency as a down payment.
The Coast News detailed that Mark Remley and court records claimed Remley offered a mutual friend $2 million to kill Mark. The friend refused and alerted police, who then arranged a meeting between Remley and an undercover detective posing as a hitman.
Investigators said Remley met the undercover detective at Starbucks, repeated her request, and discussed payment, which strengthened the case against her.
In divorce filings, Remley admitted she and a friend were present at the Del Mar property during the fire but denied knowing how it started. Mark Remley believed the fire was arson, motivated by her alleged murder plot.
The Remleys married in 2011 and had a turbulent relationship with repeated separations and reconciliations, The Coast News reported. Legal disputes escalated as criminal charges increased.
In addition to the earlier murder-for-hire conviction, Remley was later charged with arson in connection with the Del Mar house fire. She was arraigned on Sept. 11, according to a criminal complaint shared with PEOPLE by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Before her death, prosecutors said she was scheduled to return to court on March 3, 2026.
PEOPLE reported they could not reach attorneys for Remley or her estranged husband as of press time.
Mental health experts say suicide often results from complex emotional and legal pressures. Anyone experiencing self-harm or emotional distress can call or text 988 in the United States for help 24/7.
