DNA sparks murder case on Big Isle

HILO » Big Island police have reclassified their investigation into the disappearance of Stephen Lamaka Pua, 69, of Hilo as murder following confirmation that bones found north of Hilo on June 28 were his.

Pua had last been seen April 12 at the house of Sarah Wilson, 28.

Wilson disappeared as well, last seen at a Kailua-Kona hotel on April 18, but was found in good health at an out-of-state location on June 28.

Police are still looking for Cedrick Darby, 34, who also lived at Wilson's home and disappeared around the same time as the others.

Police said in April that they were looking for Wilson and Darby "in conjunction with" the disappearance of Pua.

Lt. Randall Medeiros said yesterday that Wilson is not in custody. She has not been ruled out as being involved in the death of Pua, he said. Medeiros declined to say in which state she was found and declined to say whether information from Wilson led them to Pua's remains.

Police initially suspected the bones were those of Pua but had to wait for DNA tests this week for confirmation.

A cause of death has been tentatively determined, but Medeiros declined to reveal it.