Victim Identities Released in San Marcos Fire
April 2, 2026 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the Homicide Unit is releasing the 
identities of the victims from a suspicious residential fire that resulted in their deaths in San Marcos.
On Saturday, March 28, 2026, at approximately 11:45 p.m., deputies from the San Marcos Patrol Station responded to a reported structure fire in the 900 block of Lacebark Street. Deputies arrived within minutes to find the residence fully engulfed in flames. The San Marcos Fire Department arrived shortly thereafter and extinguished the fire.
During fire suppression efforts, firefighters located two deceased individuals inside a second-floor room. The San Marcos Fire Department requested the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the cause and origin of the fire. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit responded and took lead on the investigation.
On Sunday, March 29, 2026, Sheriff’s Homicide detectives arrested 33-year-old Luis Alvarado of San Marcos for two counts of murder and arson. He was booked into the San Diego Central Jail.
The two victims have been identified as 73-year-old, Michael Austin and his wife, 72-year-old Kathryn Austin. They are both residents of San Marcos. This investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit at (858) 285‑6330 or, after hours, (858) 868‑3200. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580‑8477.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
