Hawaiʻi Island Police Investigate Discovery of Decomposed Body in Hilo

Hawaiʻi County Police Department Image.

By Maui Now Staff

(Update: 6/17/15)

A decomposed body found Monday off the road leading to the Hilo Airport has been identified through fingerprints as a 72-year-old Hilo man with no permanent address.

His identity is being withheld pending notification of his family.

An autopsy conducted Tuesday ruled out foul play and determined that he died of natural causes. The exact cause of death is pending results of further analysis.

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(Original Post: 6/15/15)

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating the discovery of a decomposed body found in Hilo on Monday morning, June 15, 2015.

Police say officers responded to a report at around 8:37 a.m. of a body off the road leading to the Hilo Airport.

Upon arrival, police say they found the body under a makeshift shelter in overgrowth about 80-100 feet south of Kekuanaoa Street and approximately a half-mile east of the Kanoelehua Avenue intersection.

Police say the body was in advanced stage of decomposition; however, police are seeking information from anyone who may have seen someone riding a white bicycle into the brush area in that vicinity during the latter part of May or early part of June.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday to determine the sex and cause of death. Police say fingerprints, dental records or both will be used to establish identity.

The case is classified as a coroner’s inquest.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Clarence Davies at (808) 961-2384 or [email protected].  Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300.