MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a body discovered in Hilo.
Tuesday (October 18) shortly after 4 p.m., South Hilo patrol officers responded to upper Kaiwiki Road area to investigate a report of an unattended vehicle. Upon arrival, police discovered that the registered owner of the Volkswagen convertible was an 84-year-old Kaiwiki man, who could not be accounted for.
Police found indications at the scene that the man might be injured. Units from the Hawaii Fire Department arrived to assist in the search of a nearby ravine and were aided by Chopper 1, the Fire Department’s helicopter.
At the bottom of the ravine, Fire department personnel located the body of an elderly Caucasian man with apparent injuries. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was officially pronounced dead.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section secured the scene overnight and returned Wednesday morning (October 19) to conduct further investigation into this incident, which is currently classified as a coroner’s inquest. Detectives have not ruled out foul play and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and to confirm the man’s identity.
Police are asking that anyone with information about this case call Detective Grant Todd at 961-2385 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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 doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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