Police are seeking a 48-year-old Pahoa woman for questioning in the case of a missing 76-year-old Hawaiian Paradise Park man who disappeared in January.
Roberta Mokihana Perry is described as 5-feet-2 inches tall, 155 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
She’s wanted for questioning in the case of William Romeo Bishop Sr., who was reportedly last seen Jan. 22 near his 22nd Avenue home in HPP.
Asked if Perry is a suspect in Bishop’s disappearance, Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division replied, “No, not at all.”
“She’s just someone we need to speak to,” Amon-Wilkins said, declining to specify what information police are hoping Perry can provide.
Bishop was living with his son and grandson at the time of his disappearance, and family members said he was in good health without Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairments.
On the day of Bishop’s disappearance, his grandson came out to play basketball and noticed both his grandfather and his car were gone, but his wallet, cellphone, backpack and other items were left behind.
“There’s no way he would just take off, leave his wallet, his phone, and take his car,” Bishop’s son, Jay Bishop, told the Tribune-Herald last month. “It’s just not my father.”
Since his disappearance, Bishop’s credit cards have not been used, according to his family, but new evidence emerged after his 2019 silver Toyota Corolla was recovered by police.
The car was found Feb. 27 in Pahoa, according to his family.
Jay Bishop’s wife, Rachel Bishop, told the Tribune-Herald the car’s license plates had been altered, and the VIN number was covered up when police recovered the vehicle.
Bishop’s family is “deeply concerned for his well-being,” according to police, and in March offered an unspecified cash reward.
Bishop’s daughter, Serena, has started a GoFundMe page, which, as of Monday afternoon had raised $2,920 of a $10,000 goal.
Bishop is described as Caucasian with a light complexion, 5-foot-8-inches tall, 170 pounds, with gray hair and green eyes. His disappearance is still officially a missing person case.
“We don’t have any evidence of foul play,” Amon-Wilkins said. “I mean, obviously, it’s concerning the vehicle has been recovered and he’s still unaccounted for.”
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Perry or Bishop is asked to contact Detective Scotty Aloy at (808) 961-2381 or Scotty.Aloy@hawaiicounty.gov or the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. 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.
E-mail John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.