An elderly woman, 81, was stabbed to death this morning on the 200 block of Olu Street in Hilo, police said,
At approximately 7:22 a.m., Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of an unresponsive elderly woman who had been stabbed in the face at her Olu Street residence.
Responding officers immediately located the 81-year-old woman lying in her driveway, with multiple stab wounds to her facial area.
The suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Keone Peter Tosie Brown, was located on his property, which adjoins the victim’s residence, hiding along the property fence line and attempting to flee the area, police said.
Brown was arrested without incident and transported to the Hilo cellblock, pending further investigation.
A female witness at the scene reported to police that after observing Brown stab the victim multiple times, he turned his attention toward her and threatened her with the knife before retreating to his property.
These incidents currently are classified as second-degree murder and first-degree terrorist threatening.
Police remain on scene at the suspect’s residence, pending the issuance of a search warrant to search the property for evidence.
The elderly victim was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and officially pronounced dead at 9:57 a.m. Her identity is being withheld at this time pending positive identification and official notification to next-of-kin.
An autopsy will be performed early next week to determine the exact cause of death.
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Duane Rapoza Jr. at (808) 961-2383, or via email at Duane.Rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the police department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.
Citizens who wish to remain anonymous can make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record any calls or subscribe to caller ID.
