Marine arrested on suspicion of killing another Marine’s wife

A Marine staff sergeant, in jail on gun charges, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of killing a 22-year-old Marine wife.

Staff Sgt. Louis Ray Perez, 45, was arrested in the death of Brittany Dawn Killgore, whose body was found near Lake Skinner in Riverside County. Perez was the last person seen with Killgore on April 13, authorities said.

The case against Perez has been forwarded to the San Diego County district attorney's office, which will decide whether to file charges.

Perez would be the second person charged with Killgore's slaying.  Jessica Lynn Lopez, 25, pleaded not guilty last week and is being held in San Diego County jail on $3-million bond.

 Lopez was arrested April 17 at a San Diego motel; she had attempted to kill herself and left a suicide note, authorities said. Within hours, searchers found Killgore's body.

Perez and Lopez lived at the same address in Fallbrook.

Perez has pleaded not guilty to charges of receiving stolen property and possession of a stolen assault rifle. Bail was set at $500,000. The charges arose when sheriff's deputies, interviewing him April 15 about Killgore's disappearance, noticed the stolen weapon, authorities said.

Perez and Killgore's husband, Lance Cpl. Cory Killgore, were stationed at Camp Pendleton. Brittany Killgore filed for divorce just days before her death.

The San Diego County medical examiner has not revealed Killgore's cause of death. Sheriff's homicide detectives have not revealed the possible motive.

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--Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Brittany Dawn Killgore. Credit: San Diego County Sheriff's Department