San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

San Diego murder suspect, Lance Cpl Patrick Thomas Poteat was sentenced Wednesday for the slaying of his nineteen year old, stripper bride of two months in January. The Marine, stationed in Miramar is facing a prison sentence of fifteen years to life.

The San Diego homicide happened on January 5 when Poteat allegedly murdered his wife, Kalyn O’Barr Poteat by strangulation as well as slitting his own wrists, which proved to be ineffective. The San Diego murder suspect was arrested in Joshua Tree after a confession note was found on the refrigerator in the apartment they shared together. Although Poteat himself made no comment during the sentencing, the victim’s loved ones shared what they had to say.

Kalyn’s closest friend, Helena Pepper’s voiced that “Every time I see her face and you killing her. You took her life with your hands. What could she have done that was so bad?” She also stated that Poteat tore Kalyn from their lives. “I have so much trouble accepting the fact she’s gone. I’m lost without her; I want my best friend back.” Poteat had no comment.

While Poteat spent Christmas in Georgia last year, he stated that he received text messages from his wife that said she was going to leave him. Poteat also didn’t approve of his wife’s chosen profession, which was stripping at Goldfinger’s Gentlemen’s Club under the name Darla. Mike Holden, a San Diego police Detective, indicated that Poteat strangled his wife using an electrical cord while she was asleep. Holden answered that “he [Poteat] never should have done that; he didn’t know why he did it. Then he said he murdered her.” Poteet’s San Diego criminal lawyer exclaims that he shows regret for his actions for this San Diego violent crime.

Marine Sentenced For Killing Stripper Wife, 10News.com, November 10, 2010