A homeless couple’s verbal dispute led to a stabbing Tuesday night in Hilo that left the 48-year-old man in the hospital and landed his 38-year-old girlfriend in the police cellblock facing a possible attempted murder charge, according to police.
A homeless couple’s verbal dispute led to a stabbing Tuesday night in Hilo that left the 48-year-old man in the hospital and landed his 38-year-old girlfriend in the police cellblock facing a possible attempted murder charge, according to police.
Police said Wednesday officers responded to a wooded area off Wainaku Street after an 8:52 p.m. call and determined the man had been stabbed in his right side by the woman, identified as Faylana Fare Fromm.
“There was more than one stab wound,” Capt. Robert Wagner of the Hilo Criminal Investigation Division said Wednesday afternoon.
Wagner said the stabbing was precipitated by the pair arguing.
“Somebody else reported it instead of the two individuals because there was a lot of yelling and screaming going on,” he said.
The victim, whom police have not yet publicly identified, was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of his injuries and is reportedly in stable condition.
“The last I checked, he’s still in the hospital,” Wagner said.
Fromm was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder and remains at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives continue to investigate.
Wagner said no weapon was found and police continue to search for one, but confirmed a tent was among items taken into evidence.
According to court records, Fromm has been in Hawaii since at least 2011 and lived on Maui before coming to the Big Island, most likely in the first half of 2014. She has a minor misdemeanor record in Hawaii but no prior felony charges or convictions.
If charged and convicted, second-degree attempted murder carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. Wagner said any possible charge against the woman is “not my decision.”
“That’s the Prosecutor’s Office’s decision,” he said. “There’s a good chance she will get charged, based on the evidence.”
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311, Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 or contact Detective Jesse Kerr at 961-8843 or jesse.kerr@hawaiicounty.gov.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.