Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252
Report No. C12033601
Media Release (update No. 3)
An autopsy conducted Tuesday (December 18) determined that the victim of a Puna murder, 54-year-old James V. Johns Sr. of Nanawale Estates, died of injury to the brain caused by blunt force trauma.
Johns’ body was found in his home Sunday.
The suspect, 36-year-old Jason Russell Jump of Pāhoa, remains in the Hilo police cellblock on suspicion of second-degree murder. Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section are continuing the investigation.
Police ask that anyone with information on this incident contact Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or nserrao@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.