Police charge Hawaiian Beaches murder suspect
Hawaii Island police have charged a 36-year-old man with murder and other offenses following a violent incident Thursday morning in Puna.
Michael Dwayne Carvalho II faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, second-degree criminal property damage, habitual property crime, and first-degree assault against a law enforcement officer in connection with incident in Hawaiian Beaches. His bail is set at $1 million.
Police were sent to a home on Kahakai Boulevard around 5 a.m. Thursday for a report of an active burglary. The residence was reportedly being renovated and no one was supposed to be on the premises.
Responding officers found the residence to have numerous shattered glass windows; however, no one was located within. Shortly after, officers observed fresh footprints on the exterior sidewalk area of the residence, and upon investigating further, they located Carvalho hiding behind a stone wall bordering the property. He was taken into custody at that time for trespassing.
As officers continued to clear the property, a body was located in the grassy yard behind the residence. The victim, identified as 34-year-old Makalapuanani Beverly Mauga, had numerous blunt force trauma-type injuries about her head and body.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to continue the investigation.
Mauga was transported to the Hilo Medical Center and pronounced dead at 10:53 a.m.
An autopsy performed Friday morning determined that Mauga died as a result of multiple blunt force head injuries, and strangulation. The manner of death was ruled homicide.
The assault against a law enforcement officer charge stems from Carvalho assaulting a police officer while he was incarcerated in the Hilo Cellblock early Friday.
Carvalho remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon in Hilo District Court.
Anyone with information on this incident or who may have been in the area of the 15-300 block of Kahakai Boulevard early Thursday should contact Detective John Balberde of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2386 or email him at John.Balberde@hawaiicounty.gov.
