Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigation Section – Area I
Lieutenant Rio S. Amon-Wilkins
Phone: (808) 961-2252
Report No. 20-002063
Media Release (Update)
Hawaiʻi Island Police have charged the suspect in the Puna murder investigation that left a 71-year-old Eden Roc man dead.
The victim has been identified as Solomon A.K.K.M. Matthews, of Eden Roc.
After conferring with County Prosecutors, at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon (January 9), detectives charged 30-year-old Malcolm Keith Utecht with second-degree Murder, first-degree Burglary, fourth-degree Sexual Assault, and Indecent Exposure.
Utecht’s charges stem from an incident on Tuesday evening (January 7), shortly after 7:00 p.m., when Puna Patrol officers responded to several calls on Palainui Avenue in the Eden Roc subdivision. Initial reports were of a naked male in the area and later that he was reportedly blocking traffic. When officers arrived in the area of Palainui Avenue, they were directed to a residence that the male individual had been seen walking towards. Officers located the male individual who was standing over the victim. The victim was lifeless and appeared to have been stabbed.
On Thursday morning (January 9) an autopsy was performed and determined that Matthews died as a result of a stab wound to the neck, and the manner of death was a homicide.
Utecht is being held in lieu of $553,000.00 bail pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Friday (January 10) in Hilo District Court.
Police ask anyone who may have information about this incident to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Frank Mohica of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2375 or Frank.Mohica@hawaiicounty.gov.
