David Tucker, 34, of Ha’ena, is scheduled to make a court appearance this morning on a misdemeanor charge of concealing the corpse of an infant. According to Kaua’i Police Department sources, he is believed to be the man responsible for
David Tucker, 34, of Ha’ena, is scheduled to make a court appearance this morning on a misdemeanor charge of concealing the corpse of an infant.
According to Kaua’i Police Department sources, he is believed to be the man responsible for burying the body of a newborn baby somewhere on Kalalau Beach or in Kalalau Valley, and believed to be the father of the baby.
The body of the baby has not yet been located. Police want to recover the body to allow an autopsy to be performed, to determine cause of death.
The baby was apparently delivered stillborn early Sunday morning in Kalalau Valley, and Kaua’i Fire Department rescue personnel flew into the valley aboard a helicopter Sunday after an SOS sign was spotted on the beach.
Firefighters brought both the baby’s suspected mother, Maria Alexander Hahn, 34, of Ha’ena, and Tucker, out of the remote valley of Na Pali Coast State Park.
Hahn was treated at Wilcox Memorial Hospital and released, and Tucker was arrested Monday.
Charges were filed against Tucker Tuesday, and he is scheduled to appear in court today to discuss the status of his case, according to Craig DeCosta of the county prosecutor’s office.
The status appearance is to determine if Tucker wants a trial in the matter, a jury-waived trial, or a jury trial, DeCosta said.
According to police sources, Tucker has refused to answer questions, but has spoken to an attorney about representing him. DeCosta said he initially also refused to be fingerprinted.
The misdemeanor crime of concealing the corpse of an infant is punishable by a fine of $2,000 or up to a year in jail, or both, DeCosta said.
