MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police have reclassified the investigation into the death of 34-year-old Dawn K. Gambsky from a coroners inquest to a murder and have forwarded their findings to county prosecutors for review.

Gambsky was reported missing by friends in July of 2008. She had not been seen for at least six months at that point. As part of the investigation into her disappearance, on August 8, 2008, detectives executed a search warrant on the property occupied by Gambsky and her husband on 37th Avenue in Orchidland Estates, Puna. After serving the search warrant on the premises, investigators located what they believed to be a potential burial site. The following day, an excavation of the suspected grave was conducted and as a result, detectives unearthed skeletal remains, suspected as being that of the missing woman.

On August 12, 2008, an autopsy performed on the remains indicated that there were traumatic injuries present. The autopsy further found no indication that the victim, identified at that time through dental records as Dawn K. Gambsky also known as Dawn K. Mancilla, died as a result of natural causes.

The investigation has been completed and is being reclassified at this time supported by the facts and circumstances surrounding this case.

Police ask anyone with information about this case to call Captain Randall Medeiros at 961-2251. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.