UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (2/18/10)

Hawai’i Police Department detectives are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found at the bottom of a 120-foot gulch in Papa’aloa, North Hilo.

She was identified as Jonelle Alvarez, 30, of Honomū.

North Hilo Patrol officers were initially called to the area of Moanalulu Bridge, in the area of the 24-mile marker on the Hawai’i Belt Road at 2:10 a.m. Thursday, as there was a report that a woman had jumped or fallen from the bridge.

Fire rescue personnel located the body in the gulch at 9:30 a.m.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call Lieutenant Mitch Kanehailua at 961-2252 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. 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.

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii County Fire Department’s Chopper One and a medic unit responded for an 8:15 a.m. alarm to Moanalulu Gulch near the 24 mile marker of Highway 19 in Papaaloa Thursday (Feb 18) to assist police in the recovery of a body.

The body was in a 120 foot deep gulch and was extracted by the helicopter crew. There was no identity or possible cause of death released by officials.