News sources report today that the mother of Peter “Peter Boy” Kema Jr., Jaylin Kema, plead guilty to the manslaughter of her son and has agreed to testify against her husband, Peter Kema Sr.
“Peter Boy” was six years old when he disappeared in June 1997.
His parents reported him missing in 1998.
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Jaylin Kema was originally charged with murder, but accepted a plea deal for the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The Kemas had both entered pleas of not guilty to second-degree murder charges after they were indicted by a Hilo grand jury for second-degree murder by omission in April 2016.
According to the indictment filed in court by Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth, both parents allegedly “did intentionally or knowingly cause the death” of Peter Kema Jr. by failing to seek aid from law enforcement or medical officials while the boy, who was six years old at the time of his disappearance, was suffering from harm. The indictment also claims that both individuals were at “the scene of multiple crimes of assault” on the boy.
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Peter Kema Sr.’s bail was set at $500,000. He scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 23, 2017.
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