U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY WILLIAM R. GOODWIN Authorities investigated the scene of a double homicide yesterday at a newly renovated Navy housing complex outside Pearl Harbor Naval Base near Nimitz Gate.

Sailor in custody
after pair found dead

The Pearl Harbor petty officer
turns himself in to military police

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

A Pearl Harbor petty officer is in custody today following the deaths of his wife and mother-in-law in his naval housing home.

The deaths are being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as a double homicide. The suspect could face the death penalty if charged and convicted of murder. Under military law, murder can be a capital offense, depending on the circumstances.

The sailor, only identified as belonging to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, turned himself in to military authorities shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday, according to Navy officials.

He told naval police officers to go to his home in Hokulani Housing -- a newly renovated Navy housing complex outside of Pearl Harbor Naval Base near Nimitz Gate.

The Navy said that when emergency personnel arrived at the two-story structure on Leal Place, the victims were found on the second floor. The victims apparently died sometime yesterday morning, the Navy said.

The Navy would not say how the two women were slain, nor would Navy officials identify the couple until their next of kin have been notified. However, the women were believed to be from Asia.

The couple have three children, ages 4, 2, and 1, who were initially taken in by the Navy's Family Advocacy Program and were later transferred to state Child Protective Service.

Neighbors, who did not wish to be identified, said they did not hear anything unusual yesterday. However, the couple had a history of domestic problems, neighbors said.

Leal Place, which is primarily used by military personnel, was closed to traffic yesterday.

The city Medical Examiner's Office will perform autopsies to determine how the victims died.