Ivy Unruh, 25-Year-Old Marine Veteran, Dies After Wichita Apartment Shooting; Estranged Husband Joshua Orlando Charged With First-Degree Murder

A 25-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran has died after being shot outside a Wichita apartment complex, with her estranged husband now charged with her murder, according to authorities.

Ivy Unruh was shot on the morning of April 17 at an apartment complex in the 7200 block of East 37th Street North in Wichita, police said. Officers responding to reports of gunfire found her suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper body near one of the buildings.

She was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where she remained for several days before dying from her injuries on April 20.

Her estranged husband, Joshua Orlando, 29, was taken into custody at the scene. Police said a firearm was recovered, and Orlando was initially booked on an aggravated battery charge.

Following Unruh’s death, prosecutors upgraded the charge. Orlando has since been charged with first-degree premeditated murder in what investigators describe as a domestic violence incident. He remains jailed in Sedgwick County on a $1.5 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 5. He has not yet entered a plea.

 

Unruh and Orlando were married but separated at the time of the shooting, according to police.

Unruh served in the United States Marine Corps from 2020 to 2024 and achieved the rank of sergeant while in the Individual Ready Reserve. She was last assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California and received multiple commendations, including awards for good conduct.

After her military service, Unruh worked as a broadcast engineer for PBS Kansas in Wichita.

PBS Kansas President Victor Hogstrom expressed shock over her death.

“When I heard about it… I couldn’t believe it,” Hogstrom said, recalling his reaction. He described Unruh as “very motivated” and “trustworthy.”

A fundraiser organized for her family described Unruh as a “strong, courageous woman” who “served her country with honor, strength, and selflessness.”

“To those who knew her, she was more than a Marine — she was a daughter, a sister, and a friend who brought light into the lives of others,” the statement read.

In a final act of generosity, Unruh’s family said her donated organs helped save six lives, noting that she “continued being a hero” even after her death.

Authorities continue to investigate the shooting as the case moves through the legal system.