LIHUE — A husband and wife were found dead Thursday about a mile apart on the Wailua shoreline.
Police launched a homicide investigation after the body of Tia Obrera, a 26-year-old Koloa woman, was found near the shoreline of a beach behind the Wailua Golf Course driving range about 6 a.m.
An ensuing “multi-agency, land and sea search” for her husband, Michael Blackstad, who she was believed to be with at the time of her death, concluded Thursday when Blackstad’s body turned up on a nearby shoreline about 2 p.m., according to a Kauai Police Department press release Friday.
Blackstad’s body was discovered on a rocky area of the beach behind Aqua Kauai Beach Resort near Hanamaulu, roughly a mile south of the location where his wife was found.
Police said Thursday afternoon that Obrera’s death is being investigated as a potential homicide — preliminary evidence suggests she was assaulted. Friday’s press release confirmed the two deaths are related, but so far it does not appear that KPD detectives believe Blackstad was murdered.
A spokesperson for the county said Friday that KPD officers are still investigating the case to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, but confirmed that officers are no longer “actively looking for suspects.”
When asked whether Blackstad’s death is also being considered a potential homicide, KPD Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce said in an email, “We are still very much in an ongoing investigation. Out of respect for all families involved, we cannot state any conclusions until an autopsy has been completed and the exact cause of death is determined.”
Police continue to ask anyone with information to call Ponce at 241-1681 or dispatch at 241-1711. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers Kauai at 246-8300.
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Caleb Loehrer, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0441 or cloehrer@thegardenisland.com.
Aloha Garden Island,
Photos of the deceased please…? As it may help in the investigation.
Is there a policy or need of respect against photos…?
This is a sad story, and an investigation that needs all the help it can get.
is KPD suggesting this is a murder-suicide?
Kpd lacks everything when it comes to solving complexed crimes like the serial killer or obvious standard procedures like the Korn case where he raped 3 different females (1 underage) in the same apartment complex of about 50 yards diameter within hours while more than 40 kpd officers are in the same apt complex investigating(?).
Even with a Harvard graduate, kpd lacks attention to details because it’s a corrupt judicial system and cops will cover up their own.
The Kauai serial killer and Lauren Kagawa murder proves the point.