Memorial for Murder Victim, Suspect Appears in Court

Handwritten notes, flowers and food are just some of the items being left at a memorial site outside of the Foodland Kehalani store in Wailuku where 24-year-old Kehau Farias Schmidt was fatally stabbed on Tuesday night.

Those who knew her continue to gather at the site today while shoppers were seen paying their respects outside the store.

Stephen B. Schmidt, 46, who is charged with Farias Schmidt’s murder, and the attempted murder of two men who tried to intervene, made his initial court appearance on Thursday, April 21, 2016.

A search of court records shows that Farias Schmidt was granted a Temporary Restraining Order on March 31, 2016 against Stephen Schmidt. The order of protection was good through April 13, 2017, but Schmidt violated the TRO on April 5, just five days after it was granted.

Two weeks later, on Tuesday, April 19, the slaying occurred with first responders rushing to the scene at 6:13 p.m. following reports of a stabbing at the store.  Police say Schmidt got into a verbal altercation with a male who accompanied his estranged wife, and ended up stabbing her before turning the knife on two men–a 53-year-old Wailuku man and a 34-year-old Haʻikū man–who tried to intervene.

Police say Schmidt fled the store and was later arrested at a home on Molokaʻi Hema Street in Kahului.

After being detained overnight, Schmidt was advised of his Miranda rights on April 20, 2016.

During his appearance on Thursday, Schmidt was reportedly denied bail.  He is scheduled to be in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, April 25, 2016.

Memorial for Kehau Farias Schmidt outside of the Kehalani Foodland store. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Memorial for Kehau Farias Schmidt outside of the Kehalani Foodland store. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Shoppers stop to pay their respects at a Memorial for Kehau Farias Schmidt outside of the Kehalani Foodland store. Photo by Wendy Osher.