Authorities have charged a 49-year-old woman, Tanya Saucier, with murder after she allegedly shot her ex-husband, James Ray Saucier, 62, outside a courthouse in Mississippi immediately following their divorce finalization.
The incident took place on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at the Lenoir Rowell Criminal Justice Center in Poplarville, Mississippi, around 12:15 p.m., shortly after the couple’s divorce hearing, as reported by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office.
Police took Tanya Saucier into custody that same day. “What Miss Saucier did yesterday is unjustifiable,” said Jansen Owen, Tanya Saucier’s divorce attorney. “I witnessed her murder him.”
Due to the couple’s tumultuous relationship, they arrived at their divorce hearing separately. Tanya Saucier and her attorney arrived at 10 a.m., followed by James Saucier and his lawyer one hour later. James Saucier was shot as he was leaving the building just before 1 p.m.
Despite efforts by courthouse staff and local citizens to provide immediate first aid, Saucier succumbed to his injuries.
“I was handling some paperwork when things went crossways,” James Saucier’s attorney, Don Rafferty, informed local media. Investigators report that Tanya Saucier used a 9mm handgun with a 15-round magazine. She was apprehended on-site by court officers and later taken into custody by the Poplarville Police Department.
According to the Sun Herald, Tanya Saucier, a U.S. Army veteran, had a history of making social media posts expressing suspicion and perceived threats.
While some community members described her as friendly and compassionate, others noticed a change in her behavior after her military service.
It was reported that the couple had a history of domestic violence. Court records show that James Saucier was indicted in August 2024 for aggravated assault and domestic violence with a deadly weapon. He was accused of shooting Tanya Saucier five times, including once in the face, a year before. His attorney maintained that he acted in self-defense.
“The family is in shock, as well as frustrated and enraged,” said Johanna Peterson, James Saucier’s sister-in-law. “She’s taken seven grandchildren’s grandfather away from them. He has a daughter and a son.”
Tanya’s alleged assault case resurfaces with new context. “She lost her eye. She claimed he tried to kill her. James Ray said it was self-defense,” Peterson said.
The case was set for trial on March 4, 2025, but James’ death leaves questions unanswered.
“In the back of our mind, we were worried… his sister, his family… he has one living brother, they suspected it, and they begged and pleaded for the sheriff’s department to do something,” Peterson told WLOX.
Legal analyst Joe Raspanti suggested that Tanya Saucier’s defense team might consider a mental capacity defense. She is currently being held without bond.
The incident has sparked concerns over courthouse security in Mississippi. Jansen Owen, Tanya Saucier’s attorney and also a state representative, pointed out systemic security issues in courthouses across the country. The Pearl River County jail currently lacks security cameras, though federal funding has been secured for security enhancements.
