HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
DETECTIVE ALBERT PACHECO
PHONE: 326-4230
AUGUST 16, 2001
G-73443
MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE
The results of an autopsy and lab tests show that a 47-year-old man died as a result of head injuries sustained in a fight that took place the evening of July 8, 2001, in Waimea, South Kohala.
The autopsy results prompted police to reclassify the case from a coroner’s inquest to a manslaughter investigation.
Kona CIS detectives have a suspect in the case and, on conclusion of their investigation, will refer the case to the County Prosecutor’s Office for its review and further disposition.
The victim, Harold Estes, died at the North Hawaii Community Hospital, the day after he got into a fight with another male, also 47.
Responding to a call, police learned that Estes was involved in a domestic dispute when the other man intervened. The two men got into a fistfight in which both men punched each other until they became physically exhausted.
While police were investigating the incident, Estes began to have trouble breathing, and fire rescue personnel were called.
After Estes was taken to the hospital, he slipped into a coma and died the following evening.
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