Ex-boyfriend held in Marine's death

[thedrifter]

Ex-boyfriend held in Marine's death




Lance corporal found dead in her bathtub

By Shannon Tangonan
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

February 14, 2004

FALLBROOK – The former boyfriend of a Camp Pendleton Marine who was found dead in her bathtub Thursday has been booked on suspicion of murder, the Sheriff's Department said yesterday.

Wardell Nelson Joiner Jr., 24, was taken into custody late Thursday at a Camp Pendleton residence, said sheriff's homicide Lt. Terry Wisniewski.

Lance Cpl. Vanessa M. Messner, 19, of Oklahoma, was killed, Camp Pendleton officials said in a statement. Messner worked as a field operator for Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

She joined the Marine Corps in May 2002 and was deployed last year in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Joiner is a former Camp Pendleton Marine who became a civilian worker at the base, Wisniewski said. He is being held at the Vista jail.

On Thursday, a supervisor contacted authorities when Messner did not report to work. Deputies checked her apartment on Alturas Road in Fallbrook and found Messner's body in the bathtub.

Messner probably was drowned, but investigators were awaiting autopsy results, Wisniewski said. Investigators believed that she died Wednesday evening.

Her father, Van Messner, said his daughter met Joiner during her deployment in Iraq.

"She was getting ready to move back on the base," Messner said. "She said, 'I've got to get away from him,' " he added.

Family members said they were waiting to hear more about the circumstances surrounding her death from Camp Pendleton authorities.

Vanessa Messner was attending college when she decided to become a Marine, her father said. "After 9/11, she kind of felt an obligation."

Messner was last home in Slapout, Okla., a few weeks ago when the Marine Corps sent her there as a recruiting assistant for about 20 days. Her family last spoke with her Saturday night.

"We had a great conversation. She talked with her mother for probably 30, 45 minutes," Messner said.

Messner said everyone was extremely proud of Vanessa, who was awarded a National Defense Service Medal.

"She was well thought of here . . . She did great things and touched lots of people's lives here," he said.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shannon Tangonan:
(760) 737-7567; shannon.tangonan@uniontrib.com

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20040214-9999-1mi14marine.html

Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

[thedrifter]

Father remembers Pendleton Marine as 'little girl'




By Jeff Latzke
ASSOCIATED PRESS
8:41 a.m. February 17, 2004

OKLAHOMA CITY – Van Messner remembers with pride his daughter's service with the U.S. Marines in Iraq. But his tears are filled with sadness for the girl who went to war young and came home safely, only to find harm.

Lance Cpl. Vanessa M. Messner, 19, of Slapout, was found dead in the bathtub of her Fallbrook, Calif., apartment last week after she did not report to work, Camp Pendleton officials said in a statement.

Messner's 24-year-old ex-boyfriend, Wardell Nelson Joiner Jr., was in custody Monday in the San Diego Central Jail after being booked last week on suspicion of murder.

Messner said his daughter was "a little girl" who had also been to Iraq.

"She loved being a Marine," Messner said Monday. "She also loved being a little girl."

Vanessa Messner joined the Marines in May 2002 and was deployed last year in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She worked as a field operator for Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

Her father said she served two tours in Iraq.

"She was one of the first in Baghdad and went in a second time to Babylon," Messner said. "She had quite a few close calls over there."

Messner said his daughter's vehicle was shot only three days before she returned home from combat.

Among her loves were horses and a motorcycle.

"She liked to go like her hair was on fire," Messner said. "Like I said, she was born a Marine. She did everything in life with gusto and touched everyone that was ever around her."

She started leaning toward the military after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he said.

"I think when they attacked our country, she felt compelled," Messner said.

Messner described his daughter as "somebody who had been defending our country, and was proud to do it. She was even looking forward to going back."

Another of Messner's daughters, Shandra Mathes, also signed on with the Air Force.

"They made me really, really proud," Messner said. "I can't get any more proud than I am."

Messner said Vanessa was back home briefly in January on a recruiting assignment, but was called back to Camp Pendleton early.

Messner told the San Diego Union-Tribune that his daughter was preparing to move back onto base at Camp Pendleton and had said of Joiner, "I've got to get away from him."

She met Joiner during her deployment in Iraq, Messner said.

Investigators were awaiting autopsy results, but believed initially that Messner was drowned Wednesday night. The San Diego Medical Examiner's Office on Monday referred questions to the county Sheriff's Department, which would not comment beyond an earlier press release stating the death was under investigation.

The family was planning a private funeral for Thursday.


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040217-0841-marinesdeath.html


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: