Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, September 30, 1996

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The collision occurred about 8:30 a.m. today on Honoapiilani Highway between Lahaina and Kihei, traffic investigators reported.

Police said the three killed were passengers in a pickup truck. Investigators said the crash also involved a bus, plus a third undetermined vehicle. Further details were sketchy .

"He has helped so many people and apparently was trying to do something good, as was his nature, when this tragedy happened," attorney Stacy Moniz said.

"There was not any kind of romantic link between Don Mike Gillis and the woman, and it's very upsetting that the FBI gave that impression by indicating they were seated together in a secluded area," Moniz added.

Gillis, 52, was shot to death at 1 a.m. Saturday in a parking lot near the Arizona Memorial. Federal Magistrate Francis Yamashita signed the criminal complaint charging Duane Staggs, 29, with murder later that afternoon, FBI agent John Pikus said.

Staggs' wife, Malia, who was seated beside Gillis in his pickup, escaped injury. Gillis may have been counseling the woman, who reportedly had argued with her husband during a party all three had attended, Moniz said.

The three people also worked for Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Duane Staggs was recently suspended from his job, a company spokesman said, but did not say why.

Staggs allegedly fired four shots from a .30-30 rifle at point-blank range at Gillis' truck. Gillis, who is the father-in-law of Philadelphia Phillies' pitcher Sid Fernandez, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Ronald A. Betts, 29, of 95-273 Waikalani Dr., was charged Saturday with attempted murder and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Betts called for an ambulance Sept. 22 to report his son had been burned. Officials at Tripler Hospital called Child Protective Services because the burns were consistent with being forcibly held in hot water, police said.

The child suffered burns over nearly 30 percent of his body, including his buttocks, genitalia, legs and feet. He was recovering at a U.S. Army burn treatment center in Texas, police said.

Martin Scott Dumes reportedly was swimming at the remote beach when the strong current pulled him out into the deep water and large surf offshore, police said.