A fishing boat in waters off Kalapana hooked a grisly catch early Tuesday morning, police said.
A fishing boat in waters off Kalapana hooked a grisly catch early Tuesday morning, police said.
At 6:28 a.m., police and fire personnel responded to a report of a body caught in a fishing line from a boat in the ocean off one of the lava viewing areas. Another vessel in the area contacted authorities and remained with the body until divers from the Fire Department and their helicopter recovered the remains and met with police at a temporary landing zone.
Police said the body is that of a Caucasian woman possibly in her late 20s or early 30s, about 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a slim build, short brown hair and a tattoo of “Veritas” on her lower back.
Police have not ruled out foul play, said Lt. Greg Esteban of Hilo Criminal Investigations Section.
“There are suspicious injuries on the body,” he said early Tuesday evening. He declined to elaborate.
The case is classified as a coroner’s inquest, and detectives are continuing to investigate. An autopsy is scheduled for this morning to determine the exact cause of death.
“We have yet to identify this female,” Esteban said.
Detectives are reviewing recent missing persons records in an attempt to identify the woman, but Esteban said that no possible matches had been found as of early Tuesday evening.
Asked how long it appeared the woman had been dead, Esteban replied: “I’m no expert in that, but it doesn’t appear that she’d been in the water very long.”
Police ask that anyone who may know the woman or who may have information contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or ralmeda@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Fetuutuunai Amuimuia at 961-2278 or famuimuia@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by private citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.