Suspect in Gay Sailor’s Murder Found Dead at San Diego Brig

Camp_Pendleton The man accused of killing gay sailor August Provost has been found dead in his cell at a southern California military jail.

According to a statement issued by Navy Region Southwest Friday afternoon, Petty Officer Jonathan Campos was found dead in the brig at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

The cause of death appears to be self-inflicted asphyxiation, according to the statement.

Brig staff members say they had checked on Campos about 11:45 a.m. and found him in “satisfactory condition”, but during another check at 12:21 p.m., he was found “unresponsive on his cot.” Jail staff administered CPR and Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton emergency crews transported Campos to the base hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:15 p.m.

Campos was charged with murder in the June 30 shooting death of Seaman August Provost. Provost was killed while he was standing sentry duty and his body set on fire at his guard post at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

The Provost family had said they believed that he was killed partly because of his sexual orientation. However the Navy has said there was no indication early in the investigation that the killing was a hate crime.

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According to NCIS investigators Provosts murder was apparently part of a crime spree, saying that Campos also planned to set fire to a landing craft at a storage area being guarded by Provost but didn’t make it inside the compound because Provost prevented his entry.

Along with the murder charge, Campos was facing charges of drug use, larceny, burglary, theft, arson and unlawful handling of a deceased individual. Campos was also accused of breaking into the off-base home of a fellow service member June 13 and stealing several items, including the .45-caliber pistol that was used to kill Provost.