Body found in S. Kona coffee field, foul play suspected

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Big Island police suspect foul play in the death of a man whose body was found Sunday in a South Kona coffee field.

Big Island police suspect foul play in the death of a man whose body was found Sunday in a South Kona coffee field.

At 7:22 a.m. Sunday, Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of a body lying in a coffee field off Keopuka Mauka Road. Hawaii Police Department officres learned that a woman had been walking her dogs when one of them strayed off the roadway to where a man’s body was lying on the ground. She then called 911.

The body, which had suspicious head injuries, was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 3:50 p.m. Sunday.

Police suspect foul play. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Police will attempt to identify the body through fingerprints. The man is described as in his mid-to-late 60s, 5-foot-4, 160 pounds with brown eyes and graying black hair. He was wearing black pants and a gray T-shirt.

Anyone who may know his identity or has any information about this case should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, ext. 238, or walter.ahmow@hawaiicounty.gov, or Detective David Matsushima at 326-4646, ext. 228, or david.matshshima@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary 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.