A 58-year-old Keaau man killed during a violent confrontation at an Orchidland Estates property Thursday night sustained more than 20 stab wounds to his head, neck and back, including one that severed his carotid artery, according to court documents filed by police.
An autopsy found Felix Padamada Jr. also suffered about 10 lacerations to his upper torso and head, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Isauro Garcia Madrigal, the 65-year-old owner of the 37th Avenue property where the confrontation occurred, told officers he’d confronted two strangers on his property. According to documents, Madrigal said one of the men had a knife that Madrigal wrestled away, and the other fled the property on foot.
Madrigal said Padamada fell to the ground, and Madrigal kicked his head into a rock wall multiple times, documents state.
Padamada’s body was found on the driveway just inside the property, police said. Documents state a search of the premises did not find a knife or sharp blade with any trace evidence of blood or body tissue.
When officers arrived on scene, Madrigal’s clothing was covered in blood, and there was blood on his face, according to documents.
Documents state Madrigal suffered a single laceration to the palm of his right hand, about 1 1/2- to 2-inches long.
Madrigal was born in Mexico, but documents made available don’t address his immigration status in the United States.
At Madrigal’s initial appearance Monday in Hilo District Court, he was accompanied by a Spanish-language interpreter.
Deputy Public Defender Jonas Krave asked for court-supervised release without monetary bail for Madrigal, saying his client is a farmer and has no one else to tend his farm.
Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Son said Madrigal — who has only traffic infractions on his record in Hawaii — is the subject of a federal detainer, which is a warrant-type document requesting he be held for authorities in another jurisdiction.
Son added Madrigal has a “significant history” elsewhere, including “a number of illegal entries … through San Diego, a couple of which involve smuggling (of) controlled substances.”
According to Son, Madrigal also has “a number of violent offenses … going back to 1973,” including arrests and/or convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, felony possession of a firearm and rape.
“Given the severity of this offense … we have grave concerns for danger to the public,” Son said.
Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas maintained Madrigal’s bail at $2 million and ordered him to appear at 3 p.m. Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.