Police investigation of Kona body reclassified as murder

Police investigate the discovery of a deceased 63-year-old Kona man found behind the Kailua-Kona Post Office Tuesday morning. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
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Big Island police have reclassified the investigation into the death of a 63-year-old Kona man as murder.

The Kailua-Kona resident’s body was found Tuesday morning near a tree in the vicinity of the Palani Road and Queen Kaahumanu intersection in Kailua-Kona, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

An autopsy conducted Friday determined the manner of the man’s death was homicide. Police provided no additional details.

Detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigation Section subsequently reclassified the investigation to murder in the second degree.

Anyone with information should department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311, or to contact Detective Ray Fukada of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646 ext. 281, or via email to Ray.Fukada@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.