A 24-year-old Kona man facing multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in connection with the discovery of two bodies in the last month in Kailua-Kona and a pair of stabbings in Hilo made his initial court appearance Thursday morning.
Per Diem District Court Judge Joseph Florendo maintained Chito Asuncion’s bail at $1.5 million. Deputy Prosecuting attorney Chase Murray will be filing a no bail motion, which will be considered when Asuncion returns to court for his preliminary hearing on Monday.
A court-appointed attorney will be assigned for Asuncion’s defense because the Office of the Public Defender needs to withdraw from the case due to a conflict of interest.
Asuncion is facing two count second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count first-degree murder. The first-degree murder was added because Asuncion is alleged to have killed more than one person.
Asuncion was arrested Tuesday in Kailua-Kona after Hawaii Police Department investigators identified the 24-year-old as a suspect in the murder of a 48-year-old Kailua-Kona man who’s body was found around 6 a.m. that morning at Hale Halawai Park in Kailua Village.
Police say the victim, identified as Boyd Maygra, suffered multiple stab wounds. An autopsy conducted Wednesday determined the man’s manner of death to be homicide.
While conducting the investigation into Maygra’s slaying, detectives linked Asuncion to three other crimes, including the alleged murder of a 63-year-old Kailua-Kona man, Brian Macaulay on May 17.
Macaulay’s body was found that morning behind the Kailua-Kona Post Office, near the Palani Road and Queen Kaahumanu Highway intersection. Police say a preliminary autopsy determined the manner of death was homicide and cause of death was also stabbing.
Asuncion is also accused of two stabbings in May in Hilo.
The first Hilo incident was reported May 25 by a 59-year-old Hilo man who reported being stabbed by an unknown male party. The victim was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries and later released.
The second Hilo stabbing occurred May 30. That incident involved the assault of a 70-year-old Hilo woman who also reported being stabbed by an unknown individual. She was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where she continues to receive treatment for her injuries.
Anyone with information relative to the cases should call the department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Tyler Prokopec of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646, ext. 224, or email Tyler.Prokopec@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.