MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police have reclassified the investigation of body a found Saturday in the Eden Roc subdivision from a coroner’s inquest to a murder.

An autopsy conducted Tuesday morning (January 31) determined that the victim died from a combination of ligature strangulation and a brain injury from a gunshot wound. The victim has been identified as 52-year-old Robert John Leong of Eden Roc.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section are continuing the investigation.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call Detective Ernest Matsumoto at 961-2379 or email him at ematsumoto@co.hawaii.hi.us.

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.