Peter Kema Sr. Sentenced to 20 Years for Manslaughter in Son’s Death

Peter Kema Sr. today was sentenced this morning to 20 years in jail. The sentence was based on a manslaughter conviction in the death of his son, and was handed down in Hilo Circuit court on Monday, July 24, 2017.

Peter Kema Sr. HPD photo.

Kema Sr. plead guilty earlier this year to the reduced charge as part of a plea deal which involved disclosure of where “Peter Boy” Kema’s body as dumped. Despite searches of an area off the Puna coast, authorities have been unable to locate any missing remains.

Kema Sr. and his wife, Jaylin Kema, were arrested in April of 2016, on the strength of a Grand Jury indictment for the death of Peter Kema Jr., also known in the media as “Peter Boy” Kema.

The boy’s mother was released after serving a year and jail and was sentenced to 10 years probation in exchange for her cooperation in the case.

The prosecution contends the 6-year-old boy died in 1997 from an injury that his parents failed to seek medical attention for.

Kema Sr. was also sentenced to five years for hindering prosecution to run concurrently with the 20-year term, and will get credit for time served.