Police still looking for murder clues By DENNIS WILKEN TGI Staff Writer Kaua`i Police are getting tips but want more in the murders of Lisa Bissell, 38, and Daren Singer, 43. Bissell was killed in April and her body was
Police still looking for murder clues
By DENNIS WILKEN
TGI Staff Writer
Kaua`i Police are getting tips
but want more in the murders of Lisa Bissell, 38, and Daren Singer, 43.
Bissell was killed in April and her body was dumped in a West Side ditch;
Singer’s body was discovered on a West Kaua`i beach Aug. 30.
Police report
that since a $10,000 reward was offered last Wednesday for information leading
to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who killed Bissell and
Singer, more than 20 leads have been called in to Crimestoppers.
“We’re
pleased with the response,” stated investigator Melvin Morris. “All available
resources continue to be devoted to following up each and every
lead.”
Morris asked the public to contact police if they have any
information about either murder, or the early-May attack of a woman in Kekaha,
who survived after being stabbed and sexually assaulted.
“Any piece of
information, no matter how insignificant you may think it is, could be very
important in our effort to solve these crimes,” Morris said.
Morris had no
further comment on a Honolulu television station’s report last week that a
40-year-old ex-convict had been arrested at his Waimea residence and given a
polygraph concerning one or both of the murders.
Morris said last Thursday
that the reports were “irresponsible” and that the arrest had been for a parole
violation.
Police had already been questioning some of the 70 registered
sex offenders living on the island since the Singer murder. But the televised
report claimed the 40-year-old convicted sex offender living in Waimea had been
the first to be polygraphed and had been arrested in connection with the
murders.
Off the record, police sources speculated on where the “leak” came
from.
But no one will comment on the record about the reports other than
Morris, who dismissed them out of hand.
When asked last weekend if the
department was using polygraphs in its interrogation of other possible
suspects, he wouldn’t comment.
Morris said he was considering an idea
suggested to him by The Garden Island to publicly post a composite sketch of
the Kekaha woman’s assailant. The sketch is based on a description she gave to
police after her assault which was, superficially at least, similar to those
that killed Bissell and Singer.
“I appreciate the idea and I’m discussing
it with my staff,” he said.
When asked if an arrest was imminent, Morris
answered, “We’re still following up any leads that come in and consider the
case wide open at this point.”
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be
reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and dwilken@pulitzer.net
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Wanted: Tips
Kaua’i Police ask anyone with information on the
Westside murders to call Crimestoppers at 241-6787. A $10,000 reward raised by
the Kaua’i community has been posted for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of the killer or killers.
