$2-Million Bail Set for 2 Sailors

Two sailors charged with the murder of a school counselor in Balboa Park were ordered Thursday to be held in County Jail on $2 million bail each.

The two men are accused of killing Michael Wayne Hamilton, 48, of El Cajon, whose body was found partially buried in the park last Sunday.

Dressed in blue jail clothing and with their heads bowed during their arraignment, Todd Everett Fluette, 18, and David Kring, 23, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

Hamilton worked at Jerabek Elementary School in Scripps Ranch. His wallet was found in his car, which was parked near 5th Avenue and Nutmeg Street, about half a mile from where his body was discovered.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Gordon Davis told San Diego Municipal Judge David Danielson that Hamilton was stabbed nine times.

“Once they realized the victim was dead, they buried the body,” Davis said in court. Most of the wounds were inflicted by Fluette, the prosecutor alleged.

“They bragged about their activities to their bunkmates,” Davis said.

Afterward, Davis declined to offer a motive for the attack, but he did say in court that Hamilton may have drunk with the two men before his death. “It was a very callous attack,” he said.

The sailors will have a bail review hearing Tuesday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 21.