JBLM soldier accused of murdering Kirkland woman to return to King County

A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier will soon return to King County to face charges of murdering a Kirkland woman last November, after he received a bad conduct discharge from the U.S. Army.

A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier will soon return to King County to face charges of murdering a Kirkland woman last November, after he received a bad conduct discharge from the U.S. Army.

The King County Prosecutor’s Office charged Pvt. Dakota Miles Wolf, 20, with first-degree murder last December for allegedly stabbing 19-year-old Scarlett Paxton to death behind her apartment complex in Juanita on Nov. 30, 2011. Wolf was AWOL from the military during this time, according to military records.

Wolf, who had a record of going Absent Without Leave, assaulting a noncommissioned officer and a history of drug abuse, was held at the base following the murder while he awaited court-martial charges. The Kirkland native was found guilty on April 20 of several charges, including six AWOLs, missing four unit movements and disobeying an order from a superior commissioned officer, according to JBLM I Corps spokesman Gary Dangerfield.

Wolf was sentenced to a bad conduct discharge, nine months of confinement, and forfeiture of pay of $994 per month for nine months, said Dangerfield.

JBLM will release Wolf back to Washington state authorities on July 16, when his case will be transferred to King County Superior Court.