Whitefish soldier murdered in Louisiana

The Whitefish Pilot

Byron Whitcomb, a standout athlete at Whitefish High School, was murdered on Saturday, June 19, while in his apartment at Fort Polk Army Base, in Vernon Parish near Leesville, Louisiana.

Whitcomb, 21, leaves behind his wife Lindsey Whitcomb and their two-year-old daughter Kendal here in Whitefish. His mother, Billie Eisinger, was born and raised and still lives in Whitefish.

Marcus Carey, 25, a civilian from Ohio, was arrested at about 5 p.m. on Saturday and charged with murder and attempted murder Monday in U.S. District Court in Lake Charles, La.

Whitcomb and his roommate, Howard Alley, were reportedly stabbed with a knife and beaten with a hammer about 8:30 a.m. The weapons allegedly were wielded by a former soldier who Whitcomb apparently had invited to stay overnight because he was homeless.

According to FBI Special Agent Sheila Thorne, the Army's Criminal Investigation Command initiated an investigation of the murder, but the FBI was brought in when it was discovered that the chief suspect was a civilian who committed a crime on a military installation.

Whitcomb joined the Army on June 23, 2009, and completed boot camp in Fort Benning, Ga. A private first class at Fort Polk, in Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Whitcomb had just completed the Ranger indoctrination program (RIP) and had been accepted for Ranger school, Lindsey said.

"It's very challenging, but he was very ambitious and did everything wholeheartedly," she said. "He was ready to deploy to Afghanistan."

An only child, Whitcomb was born in Missoula and moved here in seventh grade. Lindsey was also in middle school at the time and hung out with him. They grew close later in high school and were married on March 31, 2009, she said.

Whitcomb was very close to his now deceased grandparents, longtime Whitefish residents Jim and Helen Miscampbell, and they had a strong influence on him, Lindsey said.

"They were two of his favorite people," she said.

Whitcomb excelled in everything he did, Lindsey said, and he joined the Army to serve his country and provide for his family.

"His fellow soldiers were all lifted up by him," she said. "He made them smile and laugh. He was a natural leader."

"Since he was born," Billie added.

She recalled telling her son when he was a young teenager not to jump off the old wooden footbridge at Riverside Park into the Whitefish River. Then one day, there was a photo of him flying off the bridge on the front page of the Whitefish Pilot.

"That got him busted," she recalled.

Whitcomb's roommate was scheduled to be released from the hospital on June 23, Lindsey said. The two were close friends and had shared an apartment for about a month. Alley was nearing the end of his enlistment, she said.

"You'd think that a person would be safe on a military base," Billie said. "You wouldn't expect this. It should be the safest place for your child, your husband, your father."

Billie said she was surprised that the former soldier was allowed back on the base after being discharged, but she and Lindsey weren't surprised that Whitcomb had invited the man to stay overnight.

"He opened his heart to this gentleman and gave him a place to stay," Billie said.

"Byron was not a selfish person," Lindsey added. "He was very giving and open."

He was also a "workhorse and competitor" when he put on the Bulldog uniform, Whitefish High School athletic director Jackie Fuller said.

Whitcomb played football and basketball for the Bulldogs. He was named All Conference and All State in football in his senior year. He also played hockey and baseball with the Glacier Twins organization.

"He came to see me just before he left for the Army," Fuller said. "I was very excited for his new journey in life. He was a wonderful man."

Twins board member Bob Lockman said he helped coach Whitcomb when he joined the Twins A team at 15 years old. Whitcomb went on to play for the Twins A and AA teams for four years.

"Byron made some spectacular plays as a shortstop," he said.

Military services are scheduled to take place at Fort Polk on Monday, June 28, at 10 a.m. Lindsey and Billie will travel to attend the service, where all 164 members of his company are expected to attend.

A celebration of life will take place here in Whitefish sometime after the Fourth of July weekend, Lindsey said.

"We just want to bring him home," Billie said.