Killer of Whitefish soldier gets 30 years

AKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — A 28-year-old Army veteran, who pleaded guilty in June to second-degree murder in the 2010 slaying of a Whitefish soldier at Fort Polk, has been sentenced in federal court in Lake Charles.

KPLC-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1bFc2ra ) Marcus Carey was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison in the death of Byron Whitcomb, of Whitefish, and for the attempted murder of another soldier, Howard Alley.

Carey, sentenced Tuesday, admitted killing Whitcomb by striking him with a hammer and stabbing him multiple times. He also admitted to trying to kill Alley, who also was based at the Vernon Parish-based Army base.

According to court records, Carey served in the Army from August 2005 until August 2009. His last duty station was Fort Polk. Upon his discharge, officials said, Carey continued to stay at the post.

Carey and Alley were staying at Whitcomb's Fort Polk apartment on the morning of June 19, 2010, officials said. Court records show that Whitcomb and Alley were sleeping in the living room, Whitcomb on a sectional sofa and Alley on an air mattress.

Officials said Carey woke up, retrieved a hammer from the laundry room and some knives from the kitchen and then began attacking Whitcomb, striking him in the head with the hammer and stabbing him numerous times. Whitcomb bled to death, according to court records.

Carey also attacked Alley, hitting him with the hammer and stabbing him several times, court records show. Alley was able to escape to a neighbor's apartment.