Pendleton Marine Charged With Murder in Death of Her Son

A female Marine from Camp Pendleton, California, was quietly sent to the brig and charged with murder earlier this year after the death of her young son.

Lance Cpl. Tammy Tang faces charges including three counts of murder, one count of manslaughter, and two counts of assault, Military.com has learned.

The young Marine was charged and confined on base, and little information is available about the specific accusations she is facing.

A communication strategy and operations officer for 1st Marine Logistics Group told Military.com that Tang took her son to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton on Oct. 31, 2016, after he suffered a severe head injury.

He was subsequently transferred to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, where he died, the officer said.

The name and age of the child have not been made public.

Tang's attorney, Maj. Nelson Candelario, senior defense counsel for the Marine Corps Defense Services Organization at Pendleton, declined to make a statement regarding his client.

The three murder specifications being charged, he said, represent either/or alternatives: For example, the government alleged the child's death was either the result of a premeditated act or wanton disregard for his safety and security.

Tang, a food service specialist with 1st Marine Logistics Group, enlisted in the Corps on Jan. 20, 2015.

While assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 13, she deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit from February to September 2016, according to biographical information provided by 1st MLG officials. Her awards include two letters of appreciation, officials said.

Tang's Marine recruiting station, in San Jose, California, posted several times about her the year she enlisted, including a Jan. 19, 2015, congratulatory send-off post as she entered boot camp.

Asked by Marines at the station later that year why she chose the service, Tang cited the adventures the Corps could offer.

"After graduating from Andrew Hill High School [in San Jose], I decided to join the United States Marine Corps for the fun and adventures, and to survive life," she was quoted as saying in a Facebook post. "After recruit training, I realized there is so much more as to why I continue with what I have chosen to devote myself to."

Tang has been in pretrial confinement at Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar since April, officials said.

Her next motions hearing is set for Oct. 27, and her trial is set to begin Feb. 5, 2018.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.