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

12-07-19 Suspect charged in Puna murder investigation (Update)

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 charged the suspect in the Puna murder investigation that left a 75-year-old Mountain View man dead.

After conferring with County Prosecutors, at 8:30 p.m. this evening (December 7), detectives charged 55-year-old Michael Cecil Lee with second-degree murder.

Lee’s charges stem 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 died as a result of multiple injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

Lee is being held in lieu of $250,000.00 bail pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday (December 9) in Hilo District Court.

Police ask anyone who may have information about this incident or who may have come into contact with Lee since Wednesday (December 4) 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.