SEASIDE – Erik Olson, 42, pleaded guilty to the 2019 murder of his uncle, Greg Kolbo, the District Attorney’s office announced Wednesday. Olson faces 15 years-to-life in prison.
In early 2019, Kolbo, 68, invited his nephew to stay with him in his duplex on the old Fort Ord veteran housing in Seaside. Olson was an unemployed army veteran and moved in with Kolbo, an Air National Guard veteran.
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On March 7, neighbors called 911 with reports of black smoke coming from Kolbo’s home, according to the District Attorney’s news release. Neighbors witnessed Olson flee the scene and leave behind a suitcase, in which the murder weapon – a bloody hammer – was later found.
Kolbo’s body was recovered from the unit and identified through fingerprints. He had been wrapped in a blanket and covered in gasoline. His cause of death was determined as blunt force trauma to the head and neck. The autopsy also found no smoke in his lungs, meaning he died before the fire started.
Local, state and federal agencies cooperated to locate Olson and within 48 hours he was found hiding in a tent in San Jose. Olson pleaded guilty to second degree murder and is set to be sentenced on Jan. 28.