Big Isle killing
shocks friends

The bed-and-breakfast operator
arrested in his daughter's killing seemed
normal, an acquaintance says

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

NAALEHU, Hawaii >> A Naalehu bed-and-breakfast operator was charged today with the shooting death Sunday of his 8-year-old daughter.

In addition to the murder charge, police also charged Douglas John Fathke, 44, with attempted murder and terroristic threatening in connection with threats against a 16-year-old boy who was a guest at the bed-and-breakfast.

Fathke is being held in lieu of $550,000 bail. His arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in Hilo District Court.

Roland Gulfan, a neighbor, said Fathke showed no signs of problems.

Gulfan says Fathke ate meals at Gulfan's Naalehu Fruit Stand, which also serves pizza and sandwiches, as often as three times a day.

Fathke talked about the normal stresses of operating a business but nothing that indicated pressure building out of control, Gulfan said.

Fathke, a single parent, was arrested shortly before noon Sunday on suspicion that he shot and killed his daughter Kelsie. Police recovered a 30-30 gauge rifle, commonly used for hunting.

Police declined to comment about the case but said Fathke tried to choke the youth, who apparently broke away. He ran across the street to a gas station for help.

Rumors have swirled through tiny Naalehu, which calls itself "the southernmost town in the United States," but every theory seems to be matched by a counterargument.

Becky's Bed and Breakfast had been run by Rebecca and Charles McLinn, who now live in Green Valley, Ariz.

The two had several children from previous marriages, including Fathke and his sister Debie, said Colette Harada, of the Hawaii Island Bed and Breakfast Association.

The parents sold it to a buyer who could not make payments, and the Fathke siblings then came to Hawaii more than two years ago to operate it, Gulfan said. It is now for sale, he said.

But Fathke was not upset about lack of financial success from it, Gulfan said. "It didn't bother him. He'd do something else for his parents somewhere else," he said.

Fathke spent much of his free time with Gulfan, but Gulfan also saw him sitting on the lanai of the bed-and-breakfast drinking beer with other friends. Fathke is also an excellent woodworker, making jewelry boxes, for example, Gulfan said.

One report said Fathke recently became more religious, but Gulfan said he saw no sign of it.

Gulfan's employee Sterling Holeso said a young girl who was a friend of Kelsie told him the daughter had complained about the father swearing at her and giving her "lickings," physical punishment, while at Punaluu beach on Saturday.

Gulfan said Kelsie was a tomboy, intelligent and outspoken but polite. He never saw Fathke hit or raise his voice at her. "He really loved his daughter," Gulfan said.

"There was no indication whatsoever (of trouble)," he said. "If something built up, he definitely kept it inside."