MEDIA RELEASE

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of another body off Stainback Highway in Hilo.

On Tuesday (January 22) at about 5:18 a.m., police received an anonymous tip of a body off the “Tree Planting Road.”

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section and a scent-discriminating canine conducted area checks and discovered a badly decomposed body.

Due to the advanced state of decomposition, detectives were unable to readily identify the remains. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning to determine the exact cause of death.

Police were conducting a search in the area for the body of Dante Peter Gilman, who was initially reported as missing. A murder investigation was initiated in that case and Claude Keone Krause and his cousin, Kawena Krause, were both charged.

Police ask that anyone with information on this case to call Detective Derek Morimoto at 961-2380 or email at dmorimoto@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.