Police on Friday said they found a set of human remains in Keaau “believed to be connected to an active missing person investigation involving a 37-year-old Puna woman.”
The body, which police said was “in advanced stages of decomposition,” was found on a vacant undeveloped property located on the 16-200 block of 36th Avenue in Orchidland Estates subdivision.
Police secured and maintained custody of the 36th Avenue scene overnight, and recovered the human remains at about 9:40 a.m. Friday morning.
The information leading to the discovery of the remains was obtained during an investigation Thursday at a residence located on the 15-2000 block of 15th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision, where a search warrant was executed by police personnel, and a body of a man who is believed to have shot himself to death was recovered.
A firearm was recovered at the HPP house.
The report number, which was the same on two police department press releases — one for the 15th Avenue search and the other for the body found on 36th Avenue — corresponds to a previous press release seeking information about Ashley Kuregian, who was last seen alive on May 14. Kuregian’s age was given as 38 in the previous release.
The HPP residence also is reportedly the last place Kuregian was seen alive.
Police are withholding the man’s identity pending positive identification and notification of next-of-kin. They said an autopsy on his body will be performed next week.
The autopsy on the woman’s remains was performed this afternoon, and the forensic pathologist has deferred the cause and manner of death pending additional forensic examination and testing.
Police did not identify the woman’s body as being that of Kuregian, saying the decedent’s identity “is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the police department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain 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.