Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigation Section – Area I
Lieutenant Rio Amon-Wilkins
Phone: 961-2252
Report no.: 19-095458
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island Police have arrested the individual wanted for questioning in the murder investigation that left a 75-year-old Mountain View man dead.
At 9:42 a.m. Saturday (December 7), Puna patrol officers arrested 55-year-old Michael Cecil Lee on suspicion of second-degree murder. He was observed by Special Duty police officers, walking on Pahoa Village Road in Pahoa during the annual Pahoa Christmas Parade. Upon officers attempting to apprehend Lee, a short foot pursuit ensued; however, Lee was subsequently arrested without further incident.
Lee’s arrest stems from an incident on Wednesday evening (December 4) at approximately 7:18 p.m., when Puna patrol officers responded to the Orchid Isle Estates subdivision in Puna for a report of a missing elderly male. A short time later, officers located the male’s deceased body several hundred yards from his residence.
On Friday morning (December 6) an autopsy was performed and determined that Honda’s manner of death was homicide. He was subsequently identified through fingerprints.
Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation. Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Todd Pataray at (808) 961-2382 or todd.pataray@hawaiicounty.gov.
