Police say Walquist was killed on Dec. 30 when an assailant broke into his family’s vacation apartment complex in Rincón, a western Puerto Rican beach town that attracts surfers and divers from around the world. Walquist apparently walked in on the intruder in the kitchen and was stabbed at least three times during a struggle in the middle of the night. Police said the intruder used a knife from the kitchen to kill Walquist.
Before the intruder fled the apartment, Walquist’s wife, Gerry, rushed and grabbed the attacker, but he managed to escape through a window. Neither she nor the couple’s two children were injured in the attack.
Acevedo is being held in the Guerrero jail in Aguadilla after he appeared before Judge Jose Morales Colon, according to the El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora newspapers of Puerto Rico. Acevedo is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, destruction of evidence and a weapon’s offense.
In a video posted on the newspaper’s website, Acevedo apologized to the Walquist family while he was being escorted by police Saturday.
“It was a mistake of my life that I made,” Acevedo is quoted saying. “If the family sees this, that you forgive me, I didn’t want to do this.”
Brett Walquist’s brother, Brian, said his family was not prepared to respond to Acevedo’s comments, adding “I will share that (Acevedo’s comment) with his widow, his dad and his sister.”
Walquist, his family, his father Carl, and his sister’s family spent the holiday vacationing in Puerto Rico. The Walquists were scheduled to leave 3 p.m. Dec. 30.
Efforts to contact Acevedo’s defense lawyer by phone on Sunday were unsuccessful.
El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora reported that police have been investigating more than 40 burglaries reported in the resort community. Police said they are reviewing the burglaries to determine if any of them are related to Acevedo.
One police commander said they attempted to distribute information to tourists to be aware of the problems and to take security measures. Police told the newspapers the Rincón mayor did not want the information passed out, “because it could scare away tourists.”
Police said their intention was not to alarm tourists, but for them to take “precautionary measures” for their security and to encourage apartment owners to install alarms and cameras for security.
Police said they were able to identify Acevedo as a prime suspect after they reviewed several security cameras that were close to the resort where the Walquist family were staying. During the attack, the suspect left a baseball cap with a wooden brim at the apartment, and surveillance video captured images similar to Acevedo’s description, police said.
Police said they are still searching for the knife used to kill Walquist.
Walquist and his family arrived in Puerto Rico on Dec. 17 for an extended family vacation.
Walquist worked in Beavercreek as the Midwest representative for J&B Importers, a national wholesale distributor of bicycles, parts and accessories. He previously worked in his family’s business, Alger Bikes in Grand Rapids, which is now run by his brother.
The Walquist family will receive visitors from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Stroo Funeral Home in Grand Rapids, Mich. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Ada Bible Church in Ada, Mich.
Memorial contributions for Walquist’s two children can be made at one of the services, any Macatawa Bank location or online at www.youcaring.com/BrettWalquistFund.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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