TAMARAC, FL – In a tragic chain of events, a woman in Florida who had been seeking protection from her estranged husband was killed in a suspected domestic violence incident despite her efforts to secure a restraining order.
Mary Catherine Gingles, aged 34, had been attempting to secure a permanent injunction against her estranged husband, Nathan Gingles, 43, amid a contentious divorce proceeding initiated in February. Despite raising alarms about his erratic behavior and expressing fears for her safety, her concerns weren’t enough to prevent a tragic outcome.
On February 16, an altercation at Mary Gingles’ home in Tamarac ended in violence when Nathan Gingles allegedly shot and killed her father, David Pozner, 64. Security footage captured Mary’s desperate attempt to escape to a neighbor’s residence, trailed by her husband and their 4-year-old daughter. The situation escalated as Nathan reportedly chased her down, resulting in the deaths of Mary and a neighbor, Andrew Ferrin, 36.
Authorities located Nathan at a nearby Walmart alongside his daughter, who had been a witness to the horrific event. He now faces multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping, in addition to various domestic violence charges. He entered a not-guilty plea during his court appearance on March 6.
In a posthumous twist, Mary Gingles effectively detailed her fears in a recent court filing anticipated to bolster the case against Nathan. Submitted on March 7 by her attorney, the document casts light on Mary’s assertions of being in grave danger from her husband’s unpredictable behavior.
The filing further elaborated on a previous February 4 request from Nathan demanding Mary to confirm she felt safe, which she emphatically disputed. In her documented response, she firmly denied being safe from harm, citing a history of threats, including the discovery of a tracking device on her vehicle allegedly placed by Nathan without her consent.
Mary’s testimony also hinted at prior instances of harassment, such as break-ins and unauthorized surveillance, underscoring her claims with connections to Nathan’s credit card and online activity. Her candid responses described Nathan as “unhinged” and underlined her fear of becoming a victim of domestic violence—a prophecy that, sadly, came true just ten days later.
Though it’s unclear why Mary’s attorney waited until after her death to submit the document, it appears to fulfill a legal requirement, setting a critical official record of her asserted fears. With Nathan’s plea entered, the prosecution now has 45 days to decide whether to pursue the death penalty in this harrowing case.