#Maui murder

John Joseph Smith, 58, of Makawao, entered a not guilty plea in Second Circuit Court Wednesday. The charges stem from an ongoing police investigation into the discovery by hunters on July 5, 2023, of a body wrapped in plastic in a remote area of Kula.

An additional individual has been arrested in connection with an ongoing police investigation into the discovery of a body wrapped in plastic in a remote area of Kula earlier this month.

Another individual has been arrested in connection with an ongoing police investigation into the discovery by hunters of a body wrapped in plastic in a remote area of Kula earlier this month.

The victim has been identified as 43-year-old female Amie Kaholoaa of Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi, who police say was the girlfriend of the suspect. After an extensive investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division and Molokaʻi Patrol, officers arrested the suspect, identified as 59-year-old Mariano Garces of Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi.

Maui police have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a man found deceased at a beach volleyball court in Kīhei.

The Maui Police Department detective heading the missing person investigation into the disappearance of Moreira “Mo” Monsalve, said exhaustive searches were conducted at 15 sites over a more than five year period. Many of the searches involved the use of cadaver dogs, and search in particular utilized heavy equipment for the excavation of the Central Maui Landfill.

Alexis Felicilda, Monsalve’s daughter, described the process she went through in reporting her mom missing. Monsalve’s close friends Heather James and Matthew Wilkins discussed how they traveled from the mainland to conduct exhaustive searches, which they say Brown did not attend. And coworker, Stacie Williams, offered to help Monsalve when she broke up with Brown by giving her a place to stay.

Maui police say new processing of evidence in a two-decade-old Maui murder cold case is “significant.” Anthony Moreno was arrested in December 2019 in Florida for the 2000 murder of Kimberly Belluomini at her residence in Kīhei on Maui.

Maui police have launched a second degree murder investigation into the death of a man found unresponsive on a side street in Lahaina on Thursday morning. Upon arrival to 535 Waineʻe Street, Lahaina Patrol Officers found the man on the shoulder side of the roadway.   Police say it was reported the male appeared to have been assaulted and was bleeding.

A memorial service was held Sunday for Carly “Charli” Scott, who went missing on Maui six years ago, as her family continues to fight for the return of her remains.

A Lahiana woman was formally charged with second degree murder after the victim in an alleged assault died of injuries sustained in the incident. 

Maui police today identified the male victim in Saturday’s Pāʻia homicide investigation as 20-year-old Keenan Blair. Police say Blair and Allen knew each other, but say the reason for this incident is still being investigated.

Maui police say Anthony Moreno was arrested by the Palm Beach Sheriffs Marine Unit for the 2000 murder of Kimberly Belluomini at her residence in Kīhei nearly two decades ago.

It’s been nearly six years since Morreira “Mo” Monsalve went missing on Maui. Today would have marked the beginning in a new chapter in the case but the trail date has been pushed to March.

The trial for murder defendant Bernard Brown, the man accused of killing Moreira “Mo” Monsalve, is scheduled to start on Thursday. In October, Brown pleaded not guilty to second degree murder.  

Murder defendant, Kumulipo Sylva took the stand on Monday afternoon. The 24-year-old defendant is standing trial for the gruesome machete slaying of Eduardo Alejandro “Alex” Cerezo, a 35-year-old man from Makawao, in a mall bathroom on Maui last year.

Witness Kyle Keoho said, “He comes in with a machete and then he starts like threatening us in like some weird mafia… (saying) ‘You guys are aliens. I’ve been sending them to the moon,’ or ‘You guys are the demons. I send them to the moon.’ Then he yells out his name and chops him in his neck,” according to Keoho who witnessed his friend fall to the ground.

Jury selection began today for Kumulipo Sylva, the man standing trial for the near decapitation of Eduardo Alejandro “Alex” Cerezo with a machete at a mall bathroom on Maui last year.

Three police officers and a Maui citizen were honored today during a promotion ceremony and awards presentation at the Wailuku Police Station Station.

A man accused of murdering his estranged wife at a Wailuku supermarket was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Stephen B Schmidt…