A 36-year-old man without a permanent residence is being held without charges as police investigate a homicide that apparently took place early Thursday morning in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision of Pahoa.
According to police, the man was found hiding behind a stone on a Kahakai Boulevard property where the lifeless body of a woman who had suffered apparent blunt-force trauma injuries to her head and body was discovered. The body of the woman — who police Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins of the Hilo Criminal Investigation Division said appeared to be in her mid-30s — was found behind the house.
The woman was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:53 a.m.
Police haven’t released the identity of the victim. Asked if he knows her identity, Amon-Wilkins replied, “We have an idea, not 100%.”
Detectives are investigating the case as a second-degree murder, burglary and trespassing.
Amon-Wilkins also didn’t identify the man in police custody, but said that as of Thursday afternoon, he had been booked only on suspicion of trespassing, and hadn’t been charged with any offenses.
“He’s not going to be charged with anything today,” Amon-Wilkins said shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday.
Deferring formal charges gives detectives more time to investigate the man’s possible involvement in the other crimes being investigated. Police can legally hold an arrested detainee on suspicion of an offense for 48 hours without charging the individual. If, within those 48 hours, police later book the detainee on suspicion of charges that weren’t included in the original booking, the 48-hour clock for charging the individual is reset.
According to Amon-Wilkins, Puna patrol officers responded to the house shortly before 5 a.m. after “neighbors reported seeing activity at the house.”
Police said in a written statement the house was under renovation, and Amon-Wilkins said nobody was living there.
Amon-Wilkins didn’t directly answer if police had found a potential weapon that could administer the type of blunt-force trauma found on the woman, saying that’s “still under investigation.”
Also under investigation is whether the victim and the man in police custody knew each other, although Amon-Wilkins said “it appears they were acquaintances.”
An autopsy is scheduled for this morning to determine the exact cause of the woman’s death.
“We anticipate the victim being identified and notification of next of kin (today) at some point,” Amon-Wilkins said.
Police are asking for anyone with information on this incident or who may have been in the 15-300 block of Kahakai Boulevard early Thursday morning to contact Detective John Balberde at (808) 961-2386 or email him at John.Balberde@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 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 does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.