Suspect in teen’s kidnapping charged; bail set at $2 million
A 52-year-old man is facing a host of charges, including sex assault, kidnapping and robbery, in connection with the Friday abduction of a 15-year-old Kailua-Kona girl who was able to escape her captor the following day.
Duncan Kealoha Mahi was charged Monday afternoon with two counts each of kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree robbery, and one count each of methamphetamine trafficking and first-degree sex assault in connection with alleged crimes that began around 1:30 p.m. Friday at Anaehoomalu Bay in South Kohala.
According to police and the teen’s mother, the victim was with her boyfriend, also age 15, at Anaehoomalu Bay when a “local” man in his 40s to 60s approached the young couple, forced the girl to tie up her boyfriend and then took her at knifepoint.
Initially, police issued an emergency alert asking for help locating the girl as county, state and federal government agencies worked the search from land and air. However, at 7:12 p.m. authorities sent out Hawaii County’s first Maile (AMBER) Alert informing the community via emergency broadcast of the abduction and the teen being in danger.
An already hot social media and coconut wireless took off, with family, friends and even strangers working to help find the 15-year-old Kealakehe High School student.
Around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, as search efforts continued, the victim’s mother learned from police her had escaped her captor and was safe with police. She was immediately flown via helicopter to reunite with her daughter.
“Community support was a crucial aspect in assisting with the location of the abducted minor,” police said in a statement Monday announcing the charges filed against Mahi.
The man who allegedly abducted the teen fled the scene prior to the arrival of police, who later identified the suspect as Mahi and asked for the public’s help locating the man. Shortly before 4 p.m., officers took Mahi into custody in Hilo.
Mahi’s bail was set at $2 million pending his initial court appearance Tuesday in Hilo.
