HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
AREA I CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION
LIEUTENANT RANDALL MEDEIROS
PHONE: 961-2252
JULY 3, 2006
REPORT NO. C06020250
Police have ordered an autopsy on a body that was burned beyond recognition in a house fire Saturday (July 1, 2006).
Hamakua patrol officers responded to an Ahualoa home shortly after 3 p.m. after receiving a report of a violation of a protective order. The officers made verbal contact with a man inside, who warned police to leave.
A short time later, there was an explosion from inside the home, sending glass and other debris flying. Although the officers were near the structure at the time of the explosion, they avoided injury.
The officers summoned Hawaii Fire Department personnel and attempted to extinguish the fire themselves but the flames were overwhelming.
After firefighters extinguished the fire, the body was found among the remains of the structure. Although police have no indication anyone other than the man was inside, they have not yet concluded that the body found was his. Positive identification of the remains is pending.
The case has been classified as a coroner's inquest and is being investigated by detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigations Section. The autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
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