{"id":36666,"date":"2019-08-29T22:05:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T22:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/08\/29\/coast-guard-seaman-charged-with-murdering-shipmate\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:43:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:43:02","slug":"coast-guard-seaman-charged-with-murdering-shipmate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/08\/29\/coast-guard-seaman-charged-with-murdering-shipmate\/","title":{"rendered":"Coast Guard seaman charged with murdering shipmate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Authorities on Wednesday arrested a Bay Area-based Coast Guard member and shipped him south to San Diego, where he\u2019ll await court-martial proceedings for allegedly killing a fellow seaman<\/a> in Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military prosecutors have charged Seaman Ethan W. Tucker, 19, with 11 specifications tied to the slaying, including murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, maiming, obstructing justice, providing a false official statement and underage drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those charges capped a seven-month probe by Coast Guard Investigative Service agents and Alaskan authorities into the death of Seaman Ethan Kelch, 19, who was discovered unresponsive on the western side of Amaknak Island<\/a> <\/a>on Jan. 27 after going missing from the cutter Douglas Munro<\/a> during liberty hours the night before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince our shipmate\u2019s untimely passing, we have been in contact with his family to provide as much support as possible throughout this tragic and difficult time. The charges today are the result of the Coast Guard\u2019s steadfast desire to gather all the facts and seek justice,\u201d said Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Brickey, spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, in a prepared statement emailed to Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incarcerated in San Diego\u2019s Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar, Tucker was unavailable for comment on Thursday but on Friday his military attorney, Navy Cmdr. Justin C. Henderson, said he wants the seaman released from custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur focus right now is getting Seaman Tucker out of the brig and back to work, so he can help us prepare his defense to these charges,” Henderson said in an email to Navy Times. “He certainly presents no risk of flight or misconduct, as even Coast Guard leadership recognized by having him work in base security throughout the investigation into this tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t