Police arrest
Big Isle man
in murder

The man, suspected of beating
his girlfriend to death, crashed his
truck trying to avoid a roadblock

By Rod Thompson
Star-Bulletin

KAILUA-KONA - A Big Island man who allegedly bludgeoned his girlfriend to death Saturday is in police custody today after being arrested when he tried to run a police roadblock.

Police arrested the 35-year-old Kailua-Kona man in the murder of Jennifer Jean Malvey, 30, yesterday.

Police learned about the case at 11:16 p.m. Saturday when they received a call from the Other Side Bar in the Old Industrial Area of Kailua-Kona. The owners said they had discovered the body of Malvey, who was an employee.

Malvey and the suspect had been staying in an office above the bar until they could find permanent housing, the owners told police.

Police described Malvey's injuries as "blunt trauma to the head" and "bludgeoning." They said the instrument used in the attack was not known.

Malvey's death was suspected to have resulted from a domestic quarrel.

An autopsy to determine the exact cause of death is scheduled for today.

The suspect had last been seen outside the bar about 9 a.m. Saturday, police said. They put out an all-points bulletin for him, describing him as about 5-feet-11-inches tall, weighing about 215 pounds, with a muscular build.

He was believed to be driving a red 1987 Nissan pickup truck owned by Malvey.

Yesterday morning shortly before 10:45 a.m. an officer saw the truck on Mamalahoa Highway four miles on the Kona side of Waimea.

With the assistance of backup units, the officer attempted to stop the truck several miles away near the Waimea police station.

The suspect attempted to flee and ended up crashing into an oncoming Ford Bronco driven by an on-duty conservation officer with the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The suspect suffered facial injuries when he hit the windshield in the resulting crash and was taken to North Hawaii Hospital for treatment following his arrest at the scene.

The conservation officer suffered minor injuries to one elbow and was also taken to the hospital for treatment.

Detectives are continuing the investigation.