MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation in connection with the discovery of a body Sunday (August 9) in Captain Cook.

At 7:22 a.m. Sunday, Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of an unresponsive body lying in a coffee field off Keopuka Mauka Road. Officers learned that a woman had been walking her dogs when one of them strayed off the roadway to where a man’s body was lying on the ground. The woman called 911.

The body, which had suspicious head injuries, was officially pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 3:50 p.m.

Police suspect foul play. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Police will attempt to identify the body through fingerprints. The man is described as in his mid-to-late 60s, 5-foot-4, 160 pounds with brown eyes and graying black hair. He was wearing black pants and a gray T-shirt.

Police ask anyone who may know his identity or has any information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, extension 238, or walter.ahmow@hawaiicounty.gov, or Detective David Matsushima at 326-4646, extension 228, or david.matshshima@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 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.