U.S. Marine corporal charged with first degree murder in slaying of Alvin Bulaoro, whose body was found in truck

VISTA - Murder charges were filed today against a Camp Pendleton Marine corporal accused in the slaying of a Navy veteran whose body was found inside his parked SUV in Fallbrook last month.

Arraignment for 23-year-old Kevin Albert Richard Coset was put off until March 11 so the defendant can hire an attorney.

Coset is charged with murder and allegations that he used a knife and a firearm in the killing of 24-year-old Alvin Bulaoro. The defendant faces 61 years to life in prison if convicted, according to Deputy District Attorney Stephen Marquardt.

The victim's body was found 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, said 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.

Coset was arrested Friday at Camp Pendleton. He will be held without bail pending arraignment.

Bulaoro was a U.S. Navy veteran who later served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He had been working in his family's home health care business.

FEBRUARY 23, 2013 - WIRE SERVICE UPDATE

FALLBROOK - A U.S. Marine corporal arrested in connection to the slaying of a Navy veteran whose body was found inside his parked sport utility vehicle in Fallbrook was booked this morning on suspicion of first-degree murder, authorities said.

Kevin Albert Richard Coset, 23, was taken into custody shortly after 5 p.m. Friday at Camp Pendleton after homicide detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of murder, said San Diego County sheriff's Capt. Duncan Fraser.

Coset is suspected of killing Alvin Bulaoro, whose body, showing signs of trauma, was found on the evening of Jan. 3 zipped inside a sleeping bag in the back seat of Bulaoro's 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.

Coset was booked at 12:53 a.m. and jailed without bail at the Vista Detention Facility, according to sheriff's online records.

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, according to news reports. During his time in the Navy, he worked at Camp Pendleton, according to NBCSanDiego.com, which reported that a private investigator hired by Bulaoro's family tipped them that the slain man's SUV had been spotted parked in an Albertsons parking lot in Fallbrook.

Bulaoro worked as an administrator in a family-owned home healthcare business.

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Homicide investigators admit to being "tight-lipped" about case involving Fallbrook man's death

The commanding lieutenant of the San Diego Sheriff's Homicide Unit said his agency is being deliberately "tight-lipped" as the investigation continues into the death of a 24-year-old Fallbrook man, Alvin Bulaoro.

"The investigation is in progress and a suspect has not yet been arrested in the case," said Homicide Lt. Glenn Giannantonio. "Unfortunately, we have to be pretty tight-lipped right now so that we don't compromise the investigation.

In an effort to aid investigators, Giannantonio said, "The autopsy on Bulaoro's body has been sealed for now."

Bulaoro had been reported as missing by his family since Dec. 21 and was found dead inside his vehicle in a Fallbrook grocery store parking lot the evening of Jan. 3. Bulaoro's body was discovered zipped up in a sleeping bag inside his 1997 Toyota 4-Runner in the 1100 block of South Mission Road.

Bystanders said it was apparent that Bulaoro's body had suffered significant trauma, including gunshot wounds to the head.

Initially some emergency responders thought it may have been a case of suicide, but authorities said the opinion quickly changed when investigators arrived on scene.

"They realized very quickly, without hesitation, that this wasn't a case of suicide; it is most definitely a homicide," said Giannantonio.

Although Bulaoro had been missing almost two weeks, authorities said it appears that his vehicle had not been parked in the grocery store lot very long before being discovered.

"There are conflicting reports on how long the vehicle had been there; some said it was there a while, but others have said it wasn't there the day before," the lieutenant noted.

"There are surveillance cameras that operate in that parking lot, but I can't reveal anything about that yet," he said.

It was Bulaoro's family that called law enforcement on Jan. 3 about 6 p.m. to report they had located his vehicle in the parking lot.

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Man found dead in vehicle positively identified as missing Fallbrook man, Alvin Bulaoro; reward offered for information

Debbie Ramsey

Managing Editor

An update released by the San Diego County Sheriff's Homicide Unit late today verified that the man discovered dead inside a vehicle in the parking lot of a Fallbrook grocery store last night, January 3 was Alvin Bulaoro, of Fallbrook, who had been reported as missing since December 21 by his family.

Officials listed Bulaoro's date of birth as April 13, 1988.

Homicide Lt. Glenn Giannantonio encourages anyone with information about the incident to call the Sheriff's Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321, after hours call (858) 565-5200. It's possible to remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

(previous version)

Dead person found in vehicle believed to be missing 24-year-old Fallbrook man; homicide unit handling

Debbie Ramsey

Managing Editor

A dead person found inside a locked vehicle parked in the Fallbrook Albertsons grocery store parking lot last night, January 3, appears to have been a missing 24-year-old Fallbrook man.

Authorities with the San Diego Sheriff's Dept. said the family of missing person, Alvin Bulaoro called law enforcement at about 6 p.m. last night to report they had located his Toyota 4-Runner in the parking lot located in the 1100 block of South Mission Road. Bulaoro had been missing since December 21.

"The family reported the discovery of the vehicle to the Sheriff's Dept. and when deputies checked the interior of the vehicle, they found a deceased man in the back seat area," said Homicide Lt. Glenn Giannantonio.

"The man was zipped up in a sleeping bag and had signs of trauma to his body," said Giannantonio. "Due to the signs of trauma on the body, the case is being investigated as a homicide." Bystanders said it was apparent the man had suffered one or more gunshot wounds to the head.

Giannantonio said investigators from the Sheriff's Homicide Detail, Fallbrook Substation, and crime lab responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.

"A cause and manner of death, as well as a positive identification of the decedent will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office," said Giannantonio.

The lieutenant cautioned that all information is considered fragmentary at this time and has not been completely verified and substantiated.

(previous story)

Dead body found inside vehicle in Fallbrook grocery store parking lot; case turned over to Sheriff's Homicide unit

Debbie Ramsey

Managing Editor

Authorities have confirmed that a dead body was found inside a vehicle in the parking lot of a Fallbrook grocery store this evening (January 3).

Sheriff's Dept. Lt. Menzies said officers responded to a call regarding suspicious circumstances at about 6:25 p.m. in the Albertsons grocery store parking lot, located at 1133 South Mission Road in Fallbrook.

Menzies said a body was found "inside a gray-colored Toyota 4-Runner."

"This case has been turned over to the Sheriff's Homicide unit," said Menzies.

An individual at the scene said emergency responders had to unlock the vehicle to gain access. They also reported that the individual inside the vehicle appeared to have sustained gunshot wounds to the head.

John Buchanan of North County Fire said when the call came into his agency, a missing person's case was referenced, but he said he did not know whether the incident was indeed related to such a case or not.