Prosecutors file special circumstance allegation of 'lying in wait' in murder case of Navy veteran in Fallbrook

VISTA - Prosecutors today (March 20) filed a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait against a Camp Pendleton Marine corporal charged with murdering a Navy veteran whose body was found inside his SUV in Fallbrook.

Kevin Albert Richard Coset, 23, could face the death penalty or life in prison if convicted in the death of 24-year-old Alvin Bulaoro.

Coset also faces allegations that he used a knife and a firearm in Bulaoro's murder.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Monday, March 25 in Vista Superior Court for Coset, who was taken into custody Feb. 22 at Camp Pendleton after homicide detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest.

The victim's body, showing signs of trauma, was found on the evening of Jan. 3 zipped inside a sleeping bag in the back seat of his Toyota 4Runner in a parking lot in the 1100 block of South Mission Road, said San Diego County Sheriff's Capt. Duncan Fraser.

Members of Bulaoro's family found the SUV after previously reporting him missing. They had last seen him on Dec. 21, Fraser said.

No motive for the slaying was released.

Bulaoro was a U.S. Navy veteran who later served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. The victim orked as an administrator in a family-owned home healthcare business.

(previous story, Wed., March 11, 2013)

Camp Pendleton Marine pleads not guilty to murdering Navy veteran whose body was found in Fallbrook

VISTA - A Camp Pendleton Marine corporal pleaded not guilty today to murdering a Navy veteran whose body was found inside his SUV in Fallbrook.

Kevin Albert Richard Coset, 23, was ordered held on $5 million bail.

In addition to the murder charge, Coset faces allegations that he used a knife and a firearm in the killing of 24-year-old Alvin Bulaoro. If convicted, Coset faces 61 years to life in prison.

Judge Marshall Hockett scheduled a readiness conference for March 20 and a preliminary hearing for March 25.

Coset was taken into custody Feb. 22 at Camp Pendleton after homicide detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest, said San Diego County sheriff's Capt. Duncan Fraser.

The victim's body, showing signs of trauma, was found on the evening of Jan. 3 zipped inside a sleeping bag in the back seat of his own Toyota 4Runner in a parking lot in the 1100 block of South Mission Road, Fraser said.

Members of Bulaoro's family found the SUV after previously reporting him missing. They had last seen him on Dec. 21, Fraser said.

No motive for the slaying was released.

Bulaoro was a U.S. Navy veteran who later served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. The victim worked as an administrator in a family- owned home healthcare business.