Police: Woman reports she strangled a man to death in Puna

Police have initiated a murder investigation following an alleged domestic dispute Thursday night in Puna.

Puna patrol officers at 11:25 p.m. responded to a residence on Lehua Road in the Nanawale Estates subdivision near Pahoa after a female called police dispatch and reported that a man at the residence was not breathing.

The woman reported that she and the 45-year-old man had been involved in a domestic incident in which he had tried to kill her. The woman reported that she strangled him and he was dead.

Officers located the man seated within the driver’s seat of a vehicle, slumped over. He was not breathing, no pulse was detected, and his face appeared purple, according to police.

Officers immediately administered Narcan to the male, but it was ineffective. They then attempted the use of a defibrillator, but due to the victim’s condition, the device was not advised, police said.

Arriving Hawaii Fire Department personnel took over life-saving measures and transported the victim via ambulance to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center. The man was pronounced dead at 11:57 p.m., while en route to the hospital.

The female caller, 42-year-old Patricia Ann McConnell, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of second-degree murder and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

She was transported to the Pahoa Police Station for processing, and later transferred to the Hilo cellblock.

Upon arrest, McConnell was found in possession of a zip-packet containing a white crystalline substance in her pants pocket, which tested presumptive positive as methamphetamine, according to police.

The police investigation is continuing, and an autopsy will be performed today to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone who may have information about this incident to contact Detective David Po‘ohina at (808) 961-2385, or via email at David.Poohina@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.