Police think so; reward increasesBY DENNIS WILKEN TGI Staff Writer Kaua`i Police want to talk to a person they believe may have witnessed the beating and stabbing of a west Kaua`i woman on May 22 in Kekaha. The woman was
Police think so; reward increasesBY DENNIS WILKEN
TGI Staff Writer
Kaua`i Police want to talk to a person they believe may
have witnessed the beating and stabbing of a west Kaua`i woman on May 22 in
Kekaha.
The woman was assaulted at a home where she was a caretaker. The
attacker also tried to sexually assault the 52-year-old victim, who has since
moved to the mainland.
Police say the attempted murder and sexual assault
may be connected to two murders on the West Side. The bodies of Lisa Bissell
(April 7) and Daren Singer (Aug. 30) were found beaten, stabbed and sexually
assaulted in isolated West Side locations.
A police sketch of a possible
suspect has been publicized but so far hasn’t led to any arrests.
“We
believe there is a witness, and we need that person to step forward,” police
inspector Mel Morris said.
The possible witness surfaced “from information
we’ve received,” said police Lt. Bill Ching.
“We’re still waiting on the
results of DNA evidence (from victims and persons questioned in connection with
the cases) that’s been sent to the mainland,” Ching said when asked what
progress was being made in the three attacks on petite, middle-age white women.
“I’d say we’ve interviewed approximately 10 (known) sex offenders and another
half-dozen individuals.”
Ching expressed confidence the cases would be
closed.
“Oh, yeah, it’s a matter of time and evidence,” he
said.
Monday, Mayor Maryanne Kusaka announced that the $10,000 reward for
information leading to a conviction in the murders has been raised to
$15,000.
Kusaka said the extra funds are the result of ongoing fund-raising
by Kaua`i Economic Development Board and Kaua`i Chamber of Commerce .
“As a
community, we won’t tolerate this kind of violence. It’s not Kaua`i,” Kusaka
said.
Anyone with information about the case can call Crimestoppers at
(808) 241-6787.
The reward will be given to whoever provides information
that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for one or
all of these crimes.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at
245-3681 (ext. 252) and dwilken@pulitzer.net
