Friend of identity theft suspect confirmed dead
The Kauai man who went on a trip with a polo-playing friend has been confirmed dead by police officials, while the friend remains in jail for identity theft.
John Elwin was listed as missing in early May when he did not return from a trip to the Philippines. His body was recovered outside Manila with a single gunshot wound to the head.
Police officials on Kauai confirmed the death to Elwin's family earlier this week, family and friends said.
"It's really shocking for us, so far out of our element," said Elwin's brother, Chris. "Now we're just trying to bring him home."
Elwin's friend and traveling partner, Henry Calucag, also known as "Hank" Jacinto, is in jail for allegedly stealing land, a car, horses and money from Elwin. He has been charged with identity theft, felony theft and forgery and is being held without bail. A motion for supervised release is set for Oct. 26, and his trial is set for Nov. 13.
Another friend of Elwin's, Kauai contractor Luis Soltren, also is suing Calucag on behalf of Elwin, alleging he took the last page of a bill of sale to a car and fraudulently made it to a land deal, swapping $10 for a piece of Elwin's property on Kauai's North Shore, according to court records.
"Now that his body has been found, I hope that the authorities ... put all the dots together," Soltren said.
Chris Elwin said his brother had flown to the Philippines to buy a condominium and was excited about the trip, telling both his parents, who recently moved into their retirement home, as well as numerous friends and cousins.
Elwin is the second man with connections to Calucag who disappeared in the Philippines.
In 1990, Arthur Young disappeared after accompanying Calucag on a trip to the Philippines. After returning, Calucag withdrew cash from automated teller machines using Young's card, wrote checks in his name and even cashed Young's mother's Social Security checks, according to Young's son, Michael. Calucag also lived in a home formerly owned by Young.
Police on Kauai and in Honolulu are continuing their investigation, law enforcement officials said.