The K-Bay Killings
The Unsolved Murders of Two Young Marines in Hawaii
A desire to serve their country and a plan for the future brought them both to Hawaii. But their dreams were shattered in an instant.
On a warm September night in 1980, two young United States Marines—Lance Corporal Larry Martens, 21, and Lance Corporal Rodney “Rocky” Padilla, 19—left Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, looking for nothing more than a night of fun. They drove off in a blue Buick Skylark, windows down, radio playing. By sunrise, both were dead.
A Dark Undercurrent Beneath Paradise
Oahu is known for its postcard type beauty—white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and crystal-clear turquoise waters. But back in the late 1970s and early 1980s beneath the island’s natural splendor, there was tension simmering. An anti-military sentiment between some locals and the thousands of servicemen stationed across the island.
For Marines stationed at Kaneohe Bay—known simply as K-Bay—that tension was no secret. Many were warned not to go out alone, to avoid certain areas, and to keep a low profile when off base.
Larry Martens and Rocky Padilla both knew this when they left base on Saturday, September 6, 1980.
Two Marines, Barely Acquainted
Larry and Rocky weren’t close friends. They served in different units—Larry in Motor Transport, Rocky in an amphibious assault unit known as AMTRACs. The reason they were together that night came down to something mundane and unavoidable in Marine Corps life: Mess Hall duty.
Both men were serving their required rotation in the base kitchen. During long shifts scrubbing pots and serving meals, they struck up a casual friendship. When it came time for a night out, Larry didn’t want to go out by himself. Rocky, known for always saying yes to adventure, agreed.
It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t special. It was just bad timing.
The Night They Never Returned
Larry and Rocky left the barracks around 9:00 PM. They were expected back on base that night. When Sunday morning came and neither had returned, concern spread quickly through the barracks. Then the rumors started. By mid-morning on September 7, 1980, word broke: two Marines had been found dead.
A Gruesome Discovery at Maunalua Bay
A local fisherman checking the tide at Maunalua Bay Beach Park, roughly 30 minutes south of K-Bay, found two bodies lying near a parked Buick. The men had been brutally beaten and shot. NCIS did not divulge the location of wounds or number of shots, though one published report in the early days of the investigation indicated that both had been shot in the head[1].
In 1980, the area of the murder was remote, sparsely populated, and not well lit—an unlikely place for Marines to end up after a night on the town. Their wallets were still on them; the car was not stolen; there were no reported gunshots. But in the sand near the bodies, investigators found a message written in the sand, not yet washed away by the tide. Its contents have never been publicly disclosed.
Who Were Larry and Rocky?
Larry Martens was goofy, kind, and free-spirited, said former Platoon mate Dan Boatman who retired from the Marine Corps as a Sergeant. They enjoyed exploring Oahu—Pearl Harbor, beaches, sightseeing trips with friends. Both Marines were preparing for their next deployment, eager for what came next.
Rocky Padilla was gregarious, athletic, and deeply patriotic. He volunteered with kids, loved music and photography, and dreamed of rising through the Marine ranks. He was due to be promoted and transferred back to California, where he hoped to become a drill instructor—and someday, a police officer like his older brother Joe.
Larry and Rocky were young. Both were ambitious. Both were robbed of everything.
What Happened That Night?
Investigators believe the Marines left base around 9:00 PM and were killed around 2:00 AM That five-hour window remains a mystery.
Did they go to a club?
Were they lured somewhere?
Did a drug deal go wrong?
Were they targeted simply for being Marines?
Former Marines stationed on Oahu at the time describe a volatile environment—bar fights, harassment, and ambush-style attacks by groups targeting servicemen. It would have taken multiple assailants, or a surprise attack with lethal force, to overpower two trained, fit Marines.
A Witness Who Never Came Forward
Investigators are confident of one thing: someone saw what happened.
They believe there was a witness at the scene—someone not involved in the murders, someone who may have been too afraid to come forward.
“We know there was a witness. I can’t tell you how we know that, but we do know that there was a witness there,” said Special Agent James Curry of NCIS Hawaii. “Even if that witness is no longer with us. they probably told their family, their, their child or somebody who would now be of an adult age today. And we need that person to come forward,” he added.
A Ray of Hope
Honolulu Police investigated the murders in 1980, but the case eventually went cold. Decades later, NCIS reopened the investigation, applying modern forensic science, including advanced DNA techniques unavailable at the time of the murders.
Investigators won’t reveal what evidence they have—but they say it offers real hope - something that families have waited more than four decades for. “Right now, we’re in the process of using that science to help develop new information about this case,” said Special Agent Curry.
The Families Still Waiting
Rocky’s brother Joseph, a retired law enforcement officer, has never stopped pushing for answers. His mother—now elderly—has spent decades waiting to find out who killed her son. “My mom’s had a difficult time with it,” said Joseph Padilla. “She’s waiting. She’s experienced some health problems recently … I’d like to see some movement while she can still appreciate it,” he added.
Former Marines who served with Larry and Rocky still feel the tragic loss. They imagine the lives their friends should have lived. The families they never had. The milestones they never reached.
Speaking about his friend Larry Martens, Sgt./Retired Dan Boatman put it simply: “He should be here.”
A Plea for Justice
NCIS is asking anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward.
There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murders of Lance Corporals Larry Martens and Rocky Padilla.
If you know something:
Call CrimeStoppers Hawaii: 808-955-8300
Or submit a tip to NCIS at NCIS.navy.mil
Even after 45 years, it’s not too late to do the right thing.
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CITATIONS:
[1] No Lead Turns Up in Marine Slayings; Honolulu Star Bulletin, Sept. 16, 1980, p. 2.
Haunting piece, especially the anti-military tension context. The witness angle is compelling since someone carrying that knowledgefor 45 years probably left traces in family conversations or behavorial shifts. Cases like this where modern DNA could reopen doorways but still needs human testimony shows how technology and old-fashioned witness courage haveto work together for closure.