- Hawaii Police Department - https://www.hawaiipolice.com -

Identity of body still cannot be confirmed 01-23-03

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
HILO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
LIEUTENANT STEVEN GUILLERMO
PHONE: 961-2252
JANUARY 23, 2003
H-33551/CORONER’S INQUEST

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

Police report they have tentatively identified the body of an adult male found in the ruins of a house that burned to the ground early this month.

But because of the deteriorated condition of the body, they haven’t been able to confirm the victim’s identity yet. It’s the Police Department’s policy not to disclose the names of victims until their identities can be confirmed and their families are notified.

The victim is believed to be an 80-year-old man whose body was found in a house that was destroyed by fire on January 4, 2003, in Papaikou, South Hilo.

The body was discovered after police and fire units responded to an 8:10 p.m. call of a house on fire at 27-235-A Old Mamalahoa Highway in Papaikou. On arrival, they found the house entirely engulfed in flames. By the time the fire was extinguished, the structure had been destroyed by flames.

After entering the structure, firefighters found the victim’s remains.

Hilo Criminal Investigation Section detectives are continuing an investigation into the fire and death.

# # #