“Peter Boy” Kema’s Parents Arrested for Weapons and Drug Offenses

45-year-old Jaylin M. Kema of Pāhoa. Photo credit: Hawaiʻi Island police.

The parents of missing “Peter Boy” Kema Jr. were arrested this week on suspicion of multiple drug and weapons offenses.

“Peter Boy” was the Big Island boy who went missing in September of 1997 when he was just six-years-old.  He would be 24 years old and is still listed as missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The recent arrests are part of a welfare fraud investigation.

According to island police, the arrests were made following a search warrant conducted in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, Welfare Fraud Investigation Division.

Police have since charged 45-year-old Jaylin M. Kema of Pāhoa with second-degree theft.  She was charged at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, and is scheduled to make her first court appearance on Friday, Nov. 6.

Police say both Jaylin Kema and 45-year-old Peter J. Kema Sr. were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of ownership prohibited of a firearm, altering a serial number on a firearm, second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug.

Kema Sr. was also arrested on suspicion of owning prohibited ammunition, according to police reports.

Both remained at the police cellblock at last report, while detectives continue the investigation.

According to police reports, the search was conducted on a home on Uilani Drive in the ʻĀinaloa subdivision in Puna.