HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SECTION, AREA I
LIEUTENANT RANDALL MEDEIROS
PHONE:961-2252
JULY 19, 2006
REPORT NO. C06022101

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police are investigating an assault reported by Vernon E. Costa, the lone suspect in the deaths of 35-year-old Casey Ann Swain and 26-year-old Pua Santa Isabel on Sunday (July 16, 2006).

Detectives assigned to the East Hawaii Criminal Investigations Section were searching for Costa in the Eden Rock subdivision in upper Puna on Monday afternoon (July 17, 2006) when an individual flagged them down and reported seeing Costa run into nearby brush. A short while later, police found Costa crouched near a fallen tree. He had obvious injuries to his face. Police immediately summoned Hawaii Fire Department personnel.

Costa reported being recently assaulted by an unknown acquaintance of one of the alleged murder victims. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery for injuries he allegedly sustained in the assault.

Detectives arrested 38-year-old Moki Makaio of Kailua-Kona for second-degree assault early Monday evening. After conferring with prosecutors, Makaio was released the next day pending further investigation.