Marine Arrested in Washington in S.D. Slaying

Police in Washington state have arrested a Marine from Camp Pendleton in connection with the Fallbrook slaying of a fellow Marine who won the Bronze Star in the Persian Gulf War, authorities said Monday.

Kevin Maurice Holt, 20, is in custody in Snohomish County, Washington, just north of Seattle, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department detectives said. He apparently fled there after last week’s stabbing death of 22-year-old Marine Cpl. Brent Arthurs, detectives said.

The motive appears to have been the theft of Arthurs’ motorcycle, according to Sheriff’s Lt. Marshall Bear.

“It’s hard to believe, but I’ve seen murders for a whole lot less,” Bear said.

Snohomish County deputies arrested Holt last week after the motorcycle was found near Seattle, Bear said.

Two hikers found Arthurs’ body May 11 near De Luz Road in Fallbrook. He had been stabbed in the neck and back.

Arthurs, an Arkansas native and gunner for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, won the Bronze Star for his bravery in combat near the Kuwait International Airport. When numerous Iraqi armored vehicles attacked his platoon, Arthur used a shoulder-launched assault weapon to fend off the vehicles and braved enemy fire to remove barbed wire impeding his platoon’s advance.

San Diego County detectives flew to Washington on Saturday to interrogate Holt, Bear said.

Holt remains in custody awaiting extradition proceedings to bring him to San Diego County to face a murder charge, authorities said. He is being held on charges of possessing stolen property and being a fugitive from justice.