Capobianco Arraignment Set for “Charli” Murder

By Wendy Osher

Steven Capobianco in court for his arraignment and plea hearing. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Update, 9:32 a.m.: Capobianco has pleaded not-guilty. Full updates are posted at the following direct LINK.

An arraignment and plea is scheduled to take place at 8:30 this morning for Steven Capobianco, who was indicted on second-degree murder and third-degree arson in the homicide death of his ex-girlfriend Carly “Charli” Scott.

According to the indictment, the state alleges that Capobianco “intentionally or knowingly” caused the death of Scott “in an especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel manner.”

The indictment further details a count of arson, alleging that Capobianco “intentionally or knowingly” set fire to or caused damage to Scott’s property without consent.

On the strength of the grand jury indictment, Scott was arrested at the Maui Community Correctional Center at 1:45 p.m. on Monday, July 14, where he was being held on unrelated charges.

He was being held in lieu of $2 million bail at last report, according to court records.

Maui police say the case stems from the investigation into the disappearance of Scott on Feb. 10, 2014.

Police had reclassified the incident from a missing person case to a homicide investigation in March.

Background Information:

Carly “Charli” Scott.

Carly “Charli” Joann Scott, 27, was last known to have left the Haʻikū area on Sunday night, Feb. 9, 2014, to assist her ex-boyfriend, who family members say asked for help because of car trouble he had near mile marker 20 of the Hāna Highway.

Capobianco told Hawaii News Now in earlier reports that he and Charli went to retrieve his vehicle that night, but that he lost sight of her as she followed him in her own vehicle on their way back to their respective homes.

Scott was five months pregnant when she went missing, and family members say that Capobianco was the father of the unborn child.

The woman’s dog, who was with her when she went missing, was found near the Nāhiku Market Place on Monday, Feb. 10.

Her vehicle was found torched two days later on Wednesday night, Feb. 12, in Peʻahi, mauka of the surf spot known as “Jaws”; an her clothing and blanket were found on Thursday, Feb. 13, at Nuaʻailua Bay just East of Honomanū.

The items were located over a span of 25 to 30 miles apart.

Since the alleged murder, Capobianco has been arrested for numerous offenses, including felony theft, burglary, first-degree terroristic threatening, and possessing a deadly weapon.  He was also charged with violating terms of his release on bail.