Suspect arrested in death of 39-year-old Bremerton man

Homicide discovered just south of Mullenix Ridge Elementary

PORT ORCHARD — Deputies from the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office responding to a 911 call Monday afternoon discovered a deceased adult male at the 9000 block of Hutchins Avenue Southeast in Port Orchard, just south of Mullenix Ridge Elementary School.

Detectives determined the man had died due to homicidal violence.

The body was identified by the Kitsap County Coroner’s Office Tuesday morning as 39-year-old Steven E. Kerr from Bremerton. County Coroner Jeff Wallis said the cause and manner of death were to be confirmed following an autopsy, scheduled for Thursday.

Detectives worked through the night on Monday to process the scene, interview witnesses and identify a suspect.

Early Tuesday morning, a 51-year-old suspect turned himself in at the Kitsap County Jail, the sheriff’s office said in a report released Tuesday. He was booked for first-degree murder and was to appear before a judge in Kitsap County Superior Court on Wednesday after press deadline. The suspect was to be charged with first-degree murder and first-degree assault with a deadly weapon. Bail was set at $1.5 million.

The sheriff’s office said an investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Lt. Chad Birkenfeld at 360-337-5619.