Elderly woman found strangled in Puna home; Hawai‘i Island police investigate

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a homicide after an elderly woman was found strangled to death in her Puna home.

On June 20 at approximately 3:14 p.m., Puna patrol officers responded to a residence in the 16-1100 block of Uhini Ana Road in Mountain View after an elderly man found his 71-year-old wife lying unresponsive on the floor within their residence. Responding officers noticed the victim, Yong Cha Kim of Mountain View, had suffered several suspicious injuries and that items within the residence appeared to be disturbed.

It was also reported that several items were stolen from the residence.

Detectives believe the homicide occurred sometime between the evening of June 18, and June 20.

Hawai‘i Fire Department medics also responded and upon conducting a check on Kim, determined she had no signs of life. Kim was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 6:54 p.m.

On Friday morning, a forensic pathologist performed an autopsy on the victim and determined that the cause of death was strangulation and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives are continuing this investigation, which is now classified as second-degree murder.

Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to call Detective Amy Omaya, of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at 808-961-2381, or email at amy.omaya@hawaiicounty.gov. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the department’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 808-961-8300.