Army lab is asked to help analyze Big Isle woman’s body
Star-Bulletin staff
Big Island police looking into the cause of death of a woman found buried in her yard have asked for help from the Army lab that analyzes wartime remains.
Hawaii County police Lt. Mitch Kanehailua said yesterday that the remains of Dawn Gambsky have been turned over to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Honolulu.
"Basically, we need them to reconstruct the remains," he said.
Gambsky, 34, was last seen at her Orchidland Estates property seven months ago and was reported missing July 27. Armed with a search warrant, police searched the property Aug. 8 and uncovered her remains in a burial site.
An autopsy was performed Aug. 12 and again last Friday, but was inconclusive as to cause of death, said Kanehailua.
The forensic specialists at the Central Identification Laboratory, part of the joint command at Hickam Air Force Base, will be looking for "possible trauma," said Kanehailua.
The lab's primary mission is to identify wartime remains as belonging to U.S. service personnel missing in action.
