Capobianco Indicted for Murder Over Missing Charli Scott

By David Kvasnicka

Steven Capobianco, left, and Carly “Charli” Scott. Courtesy photos.

The ex-boyfriend of missing pregnant woman Carly “Charli” Scott, 27, has been indicted for her murder.

Head Prosecuting Attorney John D Kim told Maui Now that he expects Steven Capobianco, 24, to be served with an arrest warrant for second-degree murder and third-degree arson Monday, July 14. Capobianco is currently at Maui Community Correctional Center on unrelated charges.

The arrest warrant follows a Maui grand jury indictment that occurred Friday, July 11.

Capobianco was allegedly the father of Charli Scott’s unborn child, with the woman five months pregnant when she went missing.

Capobianco’s story about the night of her disappearance — Feb. 9, 2014 — was that he and Charli went to retrieve his vehicle after he experienced trouble with it on a remote part of the Hana Highway (near mile marker 20). He said he lost sight of her as she followed his vehicle in her own on their way back to their respective homes.

Charli’s vehicle was found torched days later in the Pe’ahi (“Jaws”) area on Feb. 12.

While Maui police never officially identified Capobianco as a suspect, they did describe him as a “person of interest.”

To this day, Charli’s body has not been found. However, police were able to re-classify the missing person case as a homicide during the investigation.

Since the alleged murder, Capobianco has been arrested over numerous offenses, including theft, terroristic threatening, burglary, violating bail conditions, and possessing a deadly weapon.

The Maui Police Department was criticized by some in the community over the handling of this and other missing persons cases; however, Chief Gary Yabuta (who is about  to retire) defended the department and its actions. Regarding Capobianco’s arrest warrant for murder, Maui police said they did not intend to release any statement about the case at this time.

The prosecuting attorneys assigned to this case are first deputy Robert Rivera and Tracy Jones, says Kim.

Chief Judge Joseph E. Cardoza has confirmed Capobianco is to appear for an arraignment and plea at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Maui Circuit Court (Courtroom 3), according to a state courts official.

Bail has been set at $2 million, according to Maui police.