Arkansas man accused of murder of Kealakehe grad

An arrest has been made in the disappearance of a former Kona woman attending nursing school in Arkansas.

Allison Maria Castro, 28, a 2012 Kealakehe High School graduate, was reported missing by her Hawaii Island family on Sept. 19 after they were unable to contact her.

Castro was entered as a missing person by the Fayetteville Police Department, and an investigation was initiated.

On Tuesday, 29-year-old Kacey Jennings, Castro’s ex-boyfriend, was arrested by Fayetteville Police for capital murder and abuse of a corpse in connection with the murder and disappearance of Castro, according to a press release.

The arrest followed Fayetteville Police responding Sept. 19 to a residence and locating Jennings, who was experiencing an apparent drug overdose. According to the department’s media release, several documents were discovered at the scene indicating that Jennings possibly killed Castro and disposed of her body.

After speaking with Castro’s family, police learned that Jennings and Castro were previously in a relationship, and they lived together.

As the investigation unfolded, additional information was discovered that led to an arrest warrant for Jennings. He was arrested on Tuesday after his release from a local medical facility.

Castro’s body has not been located and the Fayetteville police continue their investigation.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Fayetteville Police Department at (479) 587-3555.

Castro’s family has established a GoFundMe page to help with expenses at https://gofund.me/9eefe51a.