Illinois man charged with second-degree murder

Hawaii Island police have charged a 35-year-old man with second-degree murder in connection with the discovery of a deceased woman found just past midnight on Friday, fronting a business located off of Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo.

On Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Curtis Hodges, 35, of Shiloh, Ill., was charged with murder in the second degree. Bail has been set at $500,000. He is being held at the Hilo Police Station cellblock pending his court appearance.

Hodges may face additional charges, pending forensic laboratory testing.

The victim has been identified through fingerprints, however detectives are still attempting to locate next of kin.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or Robert.almeida@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.