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Detectives Big Island police detectives dug up the back yard of a residence formerly occupied by Peter Kema Sr. but found no trace of his son, who disappeared in the summer of 1997.
dig up Kema’s
former yard
But no sign of missing
Peter Kema Jr., who
would now be 9By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin"We were looking for any remains," said police Capt. James Day. "No evidence was found in the investigation of the disappearance."
Day said no one has been charged and no one is a suspect in the disappearance of Peter Kema Jr., who would now be 9 years old.
Peter Kema Sr. told Big Island police in 1998 that he handed over the boy to a family friend while visiting Oahu in August 1997.
The digging at the Nanawale subdivision in Keaau took three days -- Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 -- and was assisted by the U.S. Army officials who usually help identify the remains of missing military personnel.
Day said that no further digs were planned at the residence or any other place and that there were no further search warrants to be executed elsewhere.
Hawaii Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kimura said the case of the missing boy was under "active investigation," but declined to discuss details.
The state took custody of Kema's three children, including 3-month-old Peter Kema Jr., in August 1991, after he was diagnosed as having a broken leg and broken ribs. His maternal grandparents, James and Yolanda Acol, were awarded custody in November 1991.
But in 1995, Family Court ordered the three children to be returned to Peter and Jaylin Kema.