Possible murder The man police sources describe as the primary suspect in the Kauai murders of two women and a brutal attack on a third in 2000 will be released on parole on Feb. 28 in a separate case.
suspect due for
release on parole
Kauai police sources say the convicted sex
offender is suspected of killing 2 women
By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.comThe Hawaii Paroling Authority made the decision to release the 42-year-old convicted sex offender after a parole hearing in the Halawa Correctional Facility yesterday where the man is being held. The man was sentenced to prison on Aug. 23, 1993, for a brutal rape on Oahu and released on parole on Jan. 5, 1999. His sentence ends on Oct. 21, 2007.
Under one of the conditions of the man's release, he cannot leave Oahu and return to Kauai, said Tommy Johnson, Hawaii Paroling Authority administrator. He is prohibited from returning to Kauai because that is where he violated the terms of his earlier release, Johnson said.
Kauai Police Chief George Freitas refuses to acknowledge or deny reports that the man is a suspect. "All we have ever said is, we have looked at several people. We still have a couple of detectives assigned; they are being stubborn in pursuing it," Freitas said.
The man's identity is no secret to Kauai residents. His picture is on a flyer that had been circulating anonymously to women all over the island informing them of yesterday's parole hearing and warning them of his possible release.
His attorney blames that on leaks by Kauai police officers.
"He's really getting a raw deal by KPD in particular. We have every intention of finding out which officers are making comments, and seeking appropriate remedies," said Richard Wurdeman.
He said certain Kauai police officers are engaging in a smear campaign to appease the public.
"This needs to stop. The chief needs to start with a formal apology," Wurdeman said.
Police sources said the man is the primary suspect in the brutal attacks of three women in West Kauai between April and August 2000.
On April 7, 2000, the body of Lisa Bissell, 38, of Hanapepe, was found in a ditch near Polihale State Park. She had been raped, severely beaten and stabbed. Police sources said her throat was cut. Police sources also said her belongings were found along a road in Waimea, indicating she was abducted there.
On May 22 a 52-year-old woman was beaten and stabbed in the yard of a Kekaha home where she was employed as a yard worker.
Police sources said the man was seen in the area prior to the attack and was identified as a suspect. But the victim said she was unable to pick out her attacker in a police lineup.
On Aug. 30 the body of Daren Singer, 43, of Maui was found at a remote site near Pakala Point Beach. She had been raped, beaten and stabbed. Police sources said her face had been beaten almost beyond recognition, and her throat was cut.
Two weeks later, Kauai police arrested the man for violating terms of his parole.
Kauai police had been questioning convicted sex offenders on the island as part of their investigation.
"They have absolutely no evidence on this guy. The composite sketch doesn't look like him; the victim didn't identify him," and Wurdeman points out that DNA evidence was inconclusive.