A local Marine was arrested Friday night in Camp Pendleton in connection with the murder of a man whose body was found zipped up inside a sleeping bag in the back seat of a parked car in Fallbrook last month.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, suspect Kevin Albert Richard Coset was taken into custody shortly after 5 p.m. for the murder of Alvin Bulaoro, 24.
Bulaoro was found dead inside a 1997 Toyota 4Runner that was parked in front of the Albertson’s supermarket in the 1100 block of South Mission Road on Jan. 3. Homicide investigators said his body showed signs of trauma and deemed his death suspicious in nature.
Bulaoro had been reported missing by his family and was last seen on Dec. 21, 2012.
Bulaoro’s family pleaded for investigators to find his killer.
“I want justice for my son,” his mother, Josephine Bulaoro, told NBC 7 in an interview back in January.
Bulaoro was enlisted in the Navy for four years. He worked as a human resources officer at Camp Pendleton, helping Marines with pay, benefits and housing issues.
During that time, he got his bachelor's degree. After leaving the Navy, Bulaoro became a lieutenant in the Army.
He returned from training in Texas in November and was set to participate in a ceremony for his commission on Jan. 12 in Los Angeles.
"He told me, 'Mom you're going to be very proud of me,'" his mother previously told NBC 7.
Bulaoro’s brother told NBC 7 the family had hired a private investigator to search for Bulaoro. The private investigator is the person who told the family that Bulaoro’s car had been spotted in the Albertson’s parking lot on Jan. 3.
According to the sheriff’s department, Coset is a corporal in the Marine Corps.
He was taken into custody Friday with the help of NCIS agents and charged with the murder of Bulaoro.
Officials have not released any further details. The motive for the murder remains unknown.
Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego