Test results to determine whether or not remains found at Nukoli‘i last Sunday are human are expected to come in tomorrow, county officials said. The remains were found close to where 17-year-old John Dacuycuy, a Kapa‘a High School student, went
Test results to determine whether or not remains found at Nukoli‘i last Sunday are human are expected to come in tomorrow, county officials said.
The remains were found close to where 17-year-old John Dacuycuy, a Kapa‘a High School student, went missing Saturday after the current pulled him out to sea while he was swimming with friends.
“The remains have been sent to the Mainland for further testing to determine if they’re human or not,” said county public information officer Mary Daubert late last week. “The results of the tests are expected by Monday.”
Officials suspended the search for Dacuycuy and another missing person, 9-year-old Tyler White of Gunnison, Colo., who was caught in strong currents at Anahola Bay the same day, last Monday.
“Following intensive water and shoreline searches, Kaua‘i Fire Department officials have decided to transition from an active search to a passive,” Daubert said earlier last week.
“If something should come up to indicate that we need to go back, we certainly will,” said Kaua‘i Fire Chief Robert Westerman.
Jennifer White, the mother who brought her 8-year-old son, Aaron, to shore and then swam back into the water to attempt to rescue Tyler, died Monday morning at Wilcox Hospital.
White lost consciousness and suffered injuries during the effort. A bystander rescued White, who was in critical condition until she died.
White’s husband, Chris White, was with Aaron and the couple’s other young daughter, Kiley, in Hawai‘i, said Matt Nichol, a pastor at New Song Church in Gunnison.
“It doesn’t seem real to him,” said Nicholl, who said he has spoken with Chris White since the accident. “Obviously the grief of losing two family members is overshadowing everything else, but he knows that Jen gave her life for Aaron and wanted to give it for Tyler. It’s almost unfathomable.”
Nicholl said the Whites had been in Hawai‘i since February as Chris worked on a construction project. The family was planning to return to Colorado, where they’ve lived for at least 10 years, later this month or in early June.
Both boys were dragged into deeper waters off different beaches on Kaua‘i’s east coast. Waves were in the 8-foot range with winds blowing at about 20 mph, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Jennifer Johnson.
• Ford Gunter, staff writer, may be reached at fgunter@kauaipubco.com, or 245-3681 (ext. 251).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
