Puna murder suspect charged, victim ID’d

Police on Saturday charged a 42-year-old Pahoa woman with murder after a reported domestic dispute late Thursday night in Nanawale Estates resulted in the death of a 45-year-old man.

Patricia Ann McConnell was charged with second-degree murder and methamphetamine possession.

McConnell’s bail was set at $1.505 million. She remains in police custody pending her initial court appearance scheduled for Monday in Hilo District Court.

The victim has been identified as 45-year-old Patrick Gideon John-Bruce Dalrymple-Collins of Pahoa.

According to police, at about 11:25 p.m., McConnell called 911 and reported that she and Dalrymple-Collins had been involved in a domestic dispute at their residence on Lehua Road in Nanawale Estates. McConnell allegedly reported that Dalrymple-Collins tried to kill her, and that she strangled him and and killed him.

Responding officers found Dalrymple-Collins body in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, slumped over. He was not breathing, no pulse was detected, and his face appeared purple. Officers immediately administered Narcan, to no avail. They then attempted the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Hawaii Fire Department personnel took over life-saving measures upon arrival, but Dalrymple-Collins was pronounced dead at 11:57 p.m., while in an ambulance en route to Hilo Benioff Medical Center.

McConnell was arrested at the scene. Police said she was found in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine in a zip-packet in her pants pocket.

An autopsy was performed on Friday morning. The forensic pathologist ruled Dalrymple-Collins died of homicide due to strangulation.

Potential witnesses are asked to contact Detective David Po‘ohina of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2385, or at David.Poohina@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer anonymity call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to caller ID.