MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police have initiated a manslaughter case in connection with the death of an 82-year-old man at a care home in Kailua-Kona.

On August 13, Kona patrol officers responded to a care home on Haʻokuni Street to a report of an unresponsive 82-year-old resident. Fire/rescue personnel took the man to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:58 p.m. He was identified as Oscar Ramos.

Police initiated a coroner’s inquest case.

An autopsy conducted August 15 determined that the cause of death was aspiration of food.

After consultation with Adult Protective Services, detectives focused on the level of care provided and a determination that the Department of Human Services revoked the caregiver’s care home certification on September 24 because of this incident.

Detectives conferred with county prosecutors on November 1. After that meeting, they initiated a manslaughter investigation.