BY CHELSEA JENSEN | WEST HAWAII TODAY A 37-year-old Waimea man is facing manslaughter and abuse charges stemming from the Sunday death of a 3-year-old girl in Waimea. ADVERTISING Ezekiel Ramseyer Hao Wakinekona was charged late Sunday with one count
BY CHELSEA JENSEN | WEST HAWAII TODAY
A 37-year-old Waimea man is facing manslaughter and abuse charges stemming from the Sunday death of a 3-year-old girl in Waimea.
Ezekiel Ramseyer Hao Wakinekona was charged late Sunday with one count of manslaughter and two counts of abuse of a family or household member stemming from a Friday incident that left Marley Makanani of Waimea dead, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
The girl was a relative of Wakinekona, but police have yet to disclose the actual relation other than noting the girl had been left in his care.
Makanani was apparently found unconscious with labored breathing Friday night at her Kamamalu Street home, which police indicated belonged to Wakinekona. Hawaii Fire Department personnel were summoned to the home and transported the girl to North Hawaii Community Hospital, according to police.
At the hospital, doctors apparently noticed suspicious bruises on her body and notified police of their findings. Police subsequently arrested Wakinekona on suspicion of abuse and had two girls, ages 2 and 6, who were living in his home taken into protective custody.
Later Friday evening, Makanani was flown to Kapiolani Hospital for Women and Children on Oahu for further treatment. She was pronounced dead at 5:14 p.m. on Sunday, according to police. An autopsy has been ordered to determine her exact cause of death.
Wakinekona, just three hours after Makanani’s death, was charged with manslaughter and two counts abuse of a family or household member, according to police. The abuse charges stem from injuries allegedly located on the two children removed from the home.
Wakinekona, whom 3rd Circuit Court records indicate has no past prior criminal convictions, remains held on $60,000 bail.
cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com
