Navy civilian arrested and charged with murdering wife nearly two decades ago

A 57-year-old Navy civilian employee has been arrested and charged in the 2001 murder of his wife, the Navy Criminal Investigative Service announced Friday.

Greg Malarik, a former Navy petty officer first class, was arrested on Friday at his home in Cantonment, Fla. for allegedly murdering his wife, Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Malarik, said Jeff Houston, an NCIS spokesman.

Malarik has been charged with second-degree murder and is currently being held in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola. He is being held on $100,000 bond.

Sherri Malarik was found dead with two gunshot wounds inside her van at a grocery store in Cantonment near the family's home on Sept. 22, 2001. Police allege Mr. Malarik shot his wife in the head with a handgun as she was sitting in the front passenger seat, according to the Pensacola News Journal. 

Malarik is currently employed Naval Aviation Technical Training Center at Naval Air Station Pensacola, according to NCIS.

“This nearly 20-year-old investigation demonstrates NCIS’ relentless pursuit of truth and justice,” Thomas Cannizzo, NCIS Southeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge, told Fox 10. 

“We are enormously grateful to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, and the State Attorney’s Office for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida for their help in bringing resolution to this heinous crime. We hope this brings peace and closure to Ms. Malarik’s loved ones.”