Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252
Report No. C12033194
Media Release
Police are investigating the cause of a fire and the discovery of a body in a house in Honokaʻa.
On Tuesday (December 11) at about 8:21 p.m., police and fire personnel responded to a home in Āhualoa in upper Honokaʻa after receiving a report of a structure fire and found the structure fully engulfed. Police determined that there was an occupant of the residence who was unaccounted for.
Police and fire personnel discovered the body after extinguishing the fire.
Detectives and an evidence specialist from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section responded and are continuing the investigation, which is classified as a fire and a coroner’s inquest.
Detectives have not released the identity of the deceased person and an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
The structure was deemed a total loss.
Police ask that anyone with information about this case contact Detective Joel Field at 961-2381 or jfield@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.