A Navy spokeswoman said yesterday that "the suspected murder weapons" in the killings of a Navy wife and her mother were turned over to investigative authorities after the suspect turned himself in on Monday. Navy says murder weapons
recovered at killing sceneBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comLt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell declined to say what type of weapons were used, but it is known that a firearm was not used.
One of the women was stabbed to death, the other was beaten, according to a source.
The Navy last night identified the suspect as Petty Officer 2nd Class David Allen De Armond, 32, assigned to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The Navy also identified the victims as Zaleha De Armond, 31, and Saniah Binte Abdul Ghani, 75 or 76.
David Allen De Armond is a 13-year Navy veteran. No charges have been filed yet.
Campbell would not say what prompted the killings. However, neighbors have said that the home on a cul-de-sac at Leal Place was the scene of constant arguments.
The city Medical Examiner's Office was to perform autopsies today on the bodies of the two women to determine how they died.
Both women are from Singapore, although Zaleha De Armond is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
The couple have three children -- two boys, ages 5 and 2, and a 3-year-old girl. The children were not injured and were turned over to state Child Protective Services.
The deaths are being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as a double homicide.
De Armond could face the death penalty if charged and convicted of murder in a military court martial. Under military law, murder can be a capital offense, depending on the circumstances.
The petty officer surrendered to military authorities shortly after 11 a.m. Monday, according to Navy officials.
He had told authorities that an emergency had taken place at his Leal Place home. When emergency crews arrived at Hokulani naval housing area outside of Pearl Harbor Naval Base, they found the bodies of the two women on the second floor.