UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS

Originally published 2:00 a.m. August 1, 2009, updated 2:05 p.m., August 1, 2009

CAMP PENDLETON — A sailor charged with killing and burning a Navy seaman during an arson attack at Camp Pendleton was found dead in the base's brig, according to Navy officials.

Petty Officer Jonathan Campos, 32, of Lancaster, apparently asphyxiated himself by ingesting toilet paper, said Brian O'Rourke, a spokesman for Navy Region Southwest.

Campos was charged with the June 30 shooting death of Seaman August Provost in an attack on the Marine base.

Campos was on a suicide watch, and the few items in his cell included toilet paper and a “suicide-proof” blanket.

Brig staff members had checked on Campos about 11:45 a.m. Friday and found him in “satisfactory condition,” O'Rourke said. At 12:21 p.m., however, he was found unresponsive on his cot.

The staff administered CPR and took Campos to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead about an hour later. An autopsy will be performed sometime next week to determine his exact cause of death.

Both Campos and Provost, who was gay, were assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5. Gay-rights leaders and some of Provost's friends and relatives have expressed concern that Provost might have been killed because of his sexual orientation. The Navy has said there was no evidence of a hate crime.