Kris Malcolm Anderson, 57

Kris Malcolm Anderson, a 57-year-old white man, died Sunday, June 12, after he was struck in the head and torso in the 1300 block of 5th Street in Santa Monica, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Anderson was found unconscious on 5th Street about 5 p.m. Saturday, June 11, with “substantial head trauma” and stab wounds, according to a news release from the Santa Monica Police Department. 

He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:40 a.m., from blunt force trauma to his head and torso, and a stab wound to his face, according to coroner’s records. 

About an hour before Anderson was found, he had been involved in a scuffle at the Santa Monica Pier, where a Navy SEAL named Theo Andrew Krah accused him of taking inappropriate photos of young girls, The Times reported. 

Krah, 28, confronted Anderson on the pier and demanded to see his photos, his attorney, Anthony Salerno, told The Times. When Anderson allegedly refused, Krah restrained him, and asked a bystander to call the police. 

When officers arrived, they looked at Anderson’s photos and asked him to delete some they felt were inappropriate, Salerno said. 

Neither Krah nor Anderson were injured or arrested in the incident on the pier, Santa Monica Lt. Saul Rodriguez told The Times. The two men did not know each other before the incident, Rodriguez said, and went their separate ways afterwards. 

Anderson was discovered an hour later, about a half mile from the pier.

Krah was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday, June 13, in San Diego, where he is a  a petty officer 2nd class assigned to a special warfare unit of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Krah was charged with murder on June 15, with the allegation that he used a knife, and pleaded not guilty, his attorney told The Times. He is being held on $2 million bail. 

Salerno said Krah was at the pier that day to watch a paddle board competition and drove home to San Diego a short time after his confrontation with Anderson. The incident on the pier drew the attention of many onlookers, said Salerno, one of whom could have later gone after Anderson. 

“Anybody could have done this,” Salerno told The Times. “The question is who.” 

Anderson was a long-time employee of UCLA Extension, The Times reported. His colleagues said he was known as a gentle giant around campus who wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Santa Monica Police Det. Daniel Larios at (310) 458-8937 or Sgt. Maury Sumtin at (310) 458-8437. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.