Wice Tried To Make It On Her Own, Friends Say

In the days before her mysterious death, Tammy Sue Wice was enjoying her independence, working at her first full-time job, redecorating her Bremerton apartment and making new friends.

The 21-year-old accounting assistant had just broken up with a live-in boyfriend and "wanted some space," family and close friends said.

"She'd never been on her own," said Wice's older sister, Tina, who helped her decorate the apartment. She recalled how her sister would excitedly tell her about the new things she bought.

But Tammy Wice's life came to an end before she could savor her freedom.

Her body was found Sunday in the trunk of her car a half-mile from where she lived. She last was seen May 15 at her apartment.

Bremerton police are investigating her death as a homicide, but there are no suspects or motive. An autopsy Monday found no signs of injury, and results of toxicology tests are pending.

Police said yesterday that it appears Wice knew the person who killed her. Detectives are interviewing several people..

Fritz Rankin, a friend and one of Wice's bosses at Simpson & Fisher Companies Inc., said Wice wanted to make it on her own. "She was trying to figure out what to do with her life," said Rankin.

Wice had been with the company since October 1989 and was close to the people she worked with. Co-workers found her car.

"Work was a second family," Wice's sister said.

Until a month ago, Wice had been living with Craig Morris, whom she met when she briefly attended Washington State University.

Although the two broke up, they remained friends and took the ferry to Seattle together during the week. They had dinner together last Tuesday, Tina Wice said.

"They still were good friends," she said. "Craig was very special to Tammy."

"As far as we know he was hurt and frustrated (over the breakup) but wanted very much for it to work," Rankin said.

Tina Wice, an Eastern Washington University student, said she and her sister "told each other everything," adding that she was going to spend the summer in Bremerton with her sister. She described her sister as "very trusting" and outgoing.

Tina Wice said her father worried about Tammy living away from home and wished she would move back to Spokane, but that her sister "was so caring and didn't want anyone to worry about her."

Tammy had planned to visit the family on the Memorial Day holiday.

Funeral services for Wice will be held tomorrow in Spokane.