A Florida woman who was killed in a triple homicide allegedly committed by her estranged husband attempted to report that he was tracking her, a violation of a court order that could have resulted in his arrest.
Local NBC affiliate WTVJ reported on Friday that newly obtained court documents revealed that months before 34-year-old Mary Catherine Gingles was allegedly shot to death by her estranged husband, 43-year-old Nathan Gingles, she discovered a GPS tracker attached to her vehicle. In a phone call to her attorney on October 29, 2024, captured on video by WTVJ, Mary Catherine Gingles can be heard saying, “It’s in the back of the car!”
Prior to the discovery, Mary Catherine Gingles obtained a “no harmful contact” order from a judge, who ruled that the tracker violated the order. She reported her discovery to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office that day, telling deputies that she was afraid for her life.
She died just a few months later.
According to WTVJ, Mary Catherine Gingles was reviewing the couple’s financial records when she discovered a suspicious $702 purchase by Nathan Gingles in March 2024 at a company called HAPN. She later discovered the company sells GPS trackers.
Mary Catherine Gingles had obtained a restraining order against her husband just one month prior to making the purchase.
Despite the apparent violation, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office appears to have done nothing in response, according to WTVJ. Mary Catherine Gingles contacted law enforcement again on December 29, 2024, after discovering duct tape, zip ties, plastic wrap, rubber gloves, and other items in her home’s garage. On January 2, she went to the sheriff’s office with the tracker and the photos and videos she took when she discovered it.
According to WTVJ, one deputy told the lead detective via email that he attempted to call Mary Catherine Gingles in November 2024 after discovering the tracker, but the call was “disconnected.” In a sworn statement, Mary Catherine Gingles stated that no one ever attempted to contact her or returned her calls.
The station also reported on a search warrant affidavit for the contents of the tracker dated Jan. 16, but it was never signed by a judge, and there was no evidence that it was ever granted.
The tracker incident was only one part of Mary Catherine Gingles and Nathan Gingles’ troubled domestic violence history. According to Law&Crime, Mary Catherine Gingles once stated that her husband “sang that he was going to shoot me and there was nothing I could do about it.” She went on: “Because of Nathan’s psychotic behavior, his multiple threats, his drug use, his multiple/many silenced firearms, and my impending divorce action, I am afraid Nathan will kill me and my daughter.”
On February 16, Nathan Gingles allegedly shot his wife after she fled to a neighbor’s house. Before she fled, he allegedly shot his father-in-law, David Pozner, 64, in front of their 4-year-old daughter. Mary Catherine Gingles was caught on security cameras in the neighborhood fleeing from her home to the home of her neighbor Andrew Ferrin, 36. The same cameras allegedly captured Nathan Gingles walking in the same direction while carrying firearms, followed by a young girl.
According to police, Nathan Gingles then allegedly shot his wife and Ferrin before taking the little girl to a Walmart and being arrested.
Nathan Gingles faces three counts of first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty.
Days after the triple homicide, eight Broward County Sheriff’s deputies involved in the Gingles’ domestic violence case and the murder investigation were suspended with pay, and one chief was demoted to deputy. WTVJ reported that the lead detective had also been suspended.
“It’s clear we probably could have done more with that element,” Sheriff Gregory Tony stated at a press conference in February. “There was enough there where we could have potentially pursued a probable cause affidavit so we could arrest him and take him off the street.”
