As more residents come forward with testimony regarding the con man linked to the disappearance of the late John Elwin, Kaua‘i stands poised again to be in the national spotlight. News broadcast “Dateline NBC” will air a program Monday night
As more residents come forward with testimony regarding the con man linked to the disappearance of the late John Elwin, Kaua‘i stands poised again to be in the national spotlight.
News broadcast “Dateline NBC” will air a program Monday night about Elwin’s disappearance and the twists and turns that led investigators to piece together the last moments of the Kaua‘i resident’s life, which ended with a fatal gunshot wound to the head in May 2006.
Elwin left Kaua‘i that month traveling with Hank Jacinto, 58, who now faces up to 70 years in jail after being found guilty by a Honolulu court of stealing Elwin’s property and identity. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 27.
Elwin was found murdered two weeks after traveling to the Philippines with Jacinto, who, according to his criminal record, has dozens of aliases, including Henry Calucag.
Though Jacinto was convicted of theft, identity theft and forgery, no charges in relation to Elwin’s death have been brought against him.
Luis Soltren, a friend of Elwin’s for more than 30 years, said that thanks to the police and Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter, Jacinto is behind bars and is no longer able to lure people away from the safety of their homes to steal their money and identities. However, prosecutors are looking into unanswered invitations to the Philippines that Jacinto allegedly made to other residents after Elwin disappeared.
“This is just the beginning of the end for him,” Soltren said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to get enough evidence on the murder charge and other crimes.”
In the Philippines, bodies that are not identified are promptly buried. As a result, Elwin’s body was unaccounted for for nearly half a year, until the Attorney General’s Office ordered his body exhumed.
“Dateline NBC” is the second national program to feature the circumstances surrounding Elwin’s death; the first was “America’s Most Wanted,” which aired its version in November 2006.
Honolulu police have re-opened a 12-year-old case involving Arthur Young and are investigating the case of Douglas Ho. Both men are said to have been planning to make investments with Jacinto before their disappearances, also following trips to the Philippines. A records search shows Jacinto’s girlfriend, Debbie Anagaran, as the proprietor of the deed to Young’s house.
Jacinto was able to seize the property through a promissory note he used with power of attorney that he held as collateral.
Kaua‘i police arrested Jacinto on Sept. 23, 2006, after Jacinto tried to leave a polo field with six of Elwin’s horses.
Jacinto also was registered on several Web sites, including one that solicited financial support for Filipino orphans, www.webionic.com.
Friends of Elwin’s will have a memorial polo game in his honor at 3 p.m., Aug. 26, just three days before Jacinto’s sentencing. For more information, call Soltren, 639-4836.
• Amanda C. Gregg, assistant editor/staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or agregg@kauaipubco.com.
