#murder

Maui police have launched a second degree murder investigation into the death of a 71-year-old man in Kahului, Thursday night.

The victim, a 63-year-old Lahaina male, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Review of surveillance footage reveals that at approximately 1:45 a.m., a 20-year-old Lahaina man without clothing approached the victim’s office and brutally attacked him before feeling on foot.

Maui police have since identified the victim in Sunday’s fatal stabbing incident as James Moser, 64, of Kīhei.  The Maui Police Department extended condolences to Moser’s family and friends.

Amber Jackson, a 57-year-old resident of Kapa‘a, was reported missing on June 23, 2010. Her body was discovered on July 3, 2010, in a remote forested area of Keālia. An autopsy revealed she died from blunt-force trauma to the head.

The 43-year-old victim has since been identified as Janinekara Sturgeon of Kahului.  As of Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, the 41-year-old Kahului man arrested in conjunction with the case was charged with first degree murder.  He remains in police custody with no bail.

After a 99-day jury trial, a federal jury found Michael J. Miske, Jr., 50, of Kailua, Oʻahu, guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, 2024. On Wednesday, the court determined that as a result of Miske’s conviction of the racketeering conspiracy, he should forfeit a variety of assets to the federal government. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26, 2024.

Court documents reveal disturbing allegations in a murder case brought against the adoptive parents of missing Oʻahu girl, Isabella “Ariel” Kalua.

“Based on the investigation conducted by the Homicide Detail, we believe that Ariel was murdered sometime in the middle of August 2021 by her adoptive parents Lehua and Isaac Kalua. It’s worth noting this time element is a full month before Ariel was reported to police as a missing person. The cause of Ariel’s death is still under investigation… “

The racketeering activity allegedly included “acts involving murder, kidnapping, arson and robbery.” The allegations further include “acts relating to murder-for-hire, chemical weapons, extortionate credit transactions, racketeering, interference with commerce through robbery and extortion, drug trafficking, wire fraud, fraud in connection with identification documents, financial institution fraud, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, money laundering and obstruction of justice.”

Police say Maui County’s total index crime rate in 2019 was the lowest on record since the state began collecting data in 1975. The number of reported crimes increased for five Index Crime categories: robbery (67 cases), +26.4%; aggravated assault (271 cases), +3%; theft (3,746 incidents), +2.9%; and arson (128 cases), +4.9%.

Maui police arrested and charged 61 year old David Richard Stevens, a Lahaina area man, for second degree murder in connection with an ongoing investigation into the death of a man on Waineʻe Street early Thursday morning.

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.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged a Maui man with kidnapping and murder this week.

Detectives are following up on new leads in the murder of 27-year-old Sean Burgado, whose body was found in his home in upper Waiākea Uka on May 21, 1997.

Justin Namauu was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.  According to court records, a finding of probable cause was made on Thursday after a preliminary hearing held before Judge Blaine Kobayashi.

Unidentified human remains were discovered in the Kahikinui area of Maui. Justin Namauu was charged with the offense(s) of Murder in the Second Degree, Kidnapping, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and…

Prior to today, Saito could have posted a bond in the amount of $500K with only 10% of the bail amount, or $50K, in cash, but the court’s ruling eliminated that option.

With unanimous backing from the Maui County Council, a resolution in support of victims’ rights is headed to the state legislature.