Navy Medic Pleads Guilty to Killing His Wife, Cover-Up
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A Navy medic admitted Thursday that he killed his wife after an argument and conspired with his former girlfriend to conceal her death.
Petty Officer 2nd Class David Tate pleaded guilty during a court-martial at Camp Pendleton. He faces a military prison sentence of at least 20 years when he is sentenced June 12.
Tate testified that he and his wife, Cynthia, got into a shoving match at their Camp Pendleton home the night of Feb. 13, 1999. Tate said he shot her and hid her body in a sewage drain.
Tate was accused of conspiring with his former girlfriend, Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrea Bart, to cover up the killing.
He pleaded guilty to, among other charges, premeditated murder, adultery and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
After the slaying, Tate, of Colorado Springs, Colo., reported his wife missing.
Bart, 28, is expected to plead guilty to related offenses May 23.
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