Peabody Man Facing Charges in Billerica Murder Case

Authorities have now arrested and charged a Peabody man with murder as the third suspect in a deadly home invasion in Billerica this summer.

The Middlesex District Attorney's office said Peter Bin, 25, of Bay State Boulevard, Peabody, was arrested Friday in Lynn on charges in connection with the July 7 murder of Quintin Koehler, 22, of Billerica. Koehler was shot to death when at least three men entered his home in the middle of the night, intending to rob him, police say.

The Salem News reports Bin was arraigned in Lowell District Court on Monday and is being held on $500,000 cash bail. He is also apparently a junior at Salem State University and lives with his parents.

Bin is charged with murder, attempted armed robbery, home invasion, and possession of a firearm. Two other Lynn men have already been charged in the case -- Jason Estabrook, 28, for murder, home invasion and attempted armed robbery, and Gabriel Arias, 20, for misleading a criminal proceeding (providing false information to mislead police).

Authorities say there may be other suspects in the case, but have not identified any of them at this point.

“This is a disturbing case of drugs, fueling an act of gun violence. We intend to hold these men accountable for their actions that took the life of another person,” said DA Gerard Leone in a statement.

Leone said his office is arguing Bin was part of a plan with Estabrook and others to rob Koehler, believing there was marijuana and money inside the home. During an armed home invasion and a resulting struggle, Koehler was shot in the head.

He was pronounced dead at Lahey Clinic.

Leone's office says that on July 7 at about 3:55 a.m. Billerica police responded to 795 Boston Rd. on a report of a shooting. Officers discovered Koehler with a gunshot wound and he was taken to the hospital. The state Medical Examiner's office later confirmed the cause of death was from a gunshot wound in the manner of a homicide.

Authorities say Koehler and a witness heard noises and then discovered the burglars in the kitchen where a struggle ensued and gunshots were fired. The suspects fled the scene before police arrived.

Estabrook and Arias were both arraigned Sept. 27 in Lowell District Court. Estabrook was held without bail and Arias was held on $20,000 cash bail -- he was also held on a probation warrant from a case out of Lynn.

Estabrook is due back Nov. 26 for a probable cause hearing and Arias will be in court Nov. 27.

The Salem News reports that prosecutors said Bin was identified thanks to DNA evidence found on a hat left behind at the scene. Investigators matched it to a sample they collected from a cigarette butt discarded by Bin while he was questioned by police.

Bin has no criminal record as an adult, according to his attorney, and also works at Logix Health in Peabody, reports the Salem News; however, he was set to testify before a grand jury in September, but then invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination.