Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252
Report No.C12002670
Media Release (update)
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.
