HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
DETECTIVE GARY SOUTHER
PHONE: 326-4646, EXT. 275
DECEMBER 20, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

Kona police have positively identified the skeletal remains of a body found Thursday (December 16, 2004) as those of Astral Ananda, who had disappeared more than eight years ago.

The identification was confirmed through examination of dental records during an autopsy conducted Friday.

West Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section detectives said the results of the autopsy were consistent with the cause of death resulting from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Ananda’s remains were found in the Sunset subdivision of Kailua-Kona.

He was 52 when was reported missing on August 28, 1996. At the time, he was described as despondent and suicidal and had left a suicide note in his Sunset subdivision residence.

# # #