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Homicide detectives
investigating a death

The man, 85, was found to
have bruises and cuts

By Lori Tighe
and Suzanne Tswei
Star-Bulletin

Homicide detectives are investigating the death of an 85-year-old man taken to Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi with cuts and bruises on his body.

Robert T. Pritchard of Foster Village was unresponsive when he arrived about 5:30 p.m. yesterday at the hospital by ambulance, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police said homicide detectives were called to investigate, but the case was not classified as a homicide.

Pritchard's caretaker for three years, Becky Tolbert, said she was surprised by the police investigation. Pritchard had dementia and cut himself frequently, she said.

"He had thin skin and it tore easily. His eye was all red. He injures himself at night," she said.

Tolbert said Pritchard suffered a heart attack in the shower Saturday. She and her husband were helping him take a bath.

Pritchard's daughter, who flew in from the mainland, declined to comment.

A neighbor who lived next door, Raymond Murray, said he too was surprised the police were investigating the death.

"It's ridiculous to think they could ever do anything to harm him," Murray said, about Tolbert and her husband. "I never saw any signs of abuse. It looked like they were taking care of him. He was always well-dressed."

Pritchard was a retired noncommissioned officer with the Air Force, Murray said.