Hawai‘i Island police scrutinized in Dana Ireland case after newly identified suspect commits suicide

Albert Lauro Jr. was never on authorities’ radar throughout the course of the nearly 33-year-old investigation into the rape and murder of Dana Ireland.

Despite the announcement of Lauro’s identity and his DNA confirmed in the case, Hawai‘i Island police is still facing scrutiny for not arresting the 57-year-old when he was questioned on July 19 as he was found dead in his home days later.

A coroner’s inquest has been opened into Lauro’s death, however, police believe he killed himself.

During a press conference Monday, Hawai‘i Island Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz said it was new technology that allowed authorities to identify DNA found at the scene on a t-shirt and sheet used to cover Ireland’s body after she was found off Wa‘a Wa‘a fishing trail on Christmas Eve in 1991.

According to police, Ireland, 23, of Virginia, was riding her bike in a remote area of Puna when she was struck by a vehicle. She was ultimately kidnapped, sexually assaulted and left for dead. She died from blood loss.

Lauro’s DNA was confirmed after police retrieved a fork he used after eating a plate lunch.

Lauro voluntarily came down to the police station to be questioned in the case where an FBI agent was present in the next room. Moszkowicz said the decision not to arrest the 57-year-old came down to investigators’ opinion that there was no sufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Lauro intentionally and knowingly caused Ireland’s death.

At that time, Lauro agreed to a buccal swab, which matched the DNA sample from the fork.

Despite Lauro’s death, Moszkowicz said it’s not the end of the story, adding that investigators were able to use technology to get into Lauro’s cellphone. “We hope that there are some answers in there.”

“There are a lot of other investigative avenues, techniques, search warrants that we have been working on that we plan to continue working on,” Moszkowicz said, adding the department’s search for the truth is “absolutely nominal.”

In 2000, three men were convicted in Ireland’s killing. One died in prison. The other two, brothers Shawn and Albert Schweitzer, have had their convictions vacated.

A hearing is scheduled this morning in Hilo Circuit Court where a judge will review address evidence from Lauro’s meeting with police.

Hawai‘i County Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen said his office has not reviewed any of the final police reports, documents, or evidence related to these most recent developments in this investigation.

The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to request a short continuance to allow police to complete their investigation and ensure that the Hawai‘i Innocence Project, the prosecutor’s office and the court are allowed to review the entirety of the police department’s investigation into Lauro before the court renders a decision.

Ken Lawson, co-director of Hawai‘i Innocence Project, believes the police department dropped the ball in the case.

Lawson explained that Shawn Schweitzer was charged with second-degree murder because police investigating the Ireland case in the 1990s claimed he was present at the 23-year-old woman’s assault but didn’t provide her aid.

Lawson questioned why Lauro wasn’t charged with second-degree murder after the assault as there is proof through DNA that the 57-year-old was at the scene.

“We’re asking that the FBI take it [the Ireland case] over right now,” Lawson said.

Moszkowicz said investigators didn’t feel Lauro’s DNA was enough evidence to charge him with second-degree murder adding the sexual encounter between Ireland and Lauro could’ve happened before the accident.

The police chief said the department has continued to work with the FBI on this case saying their help in running the DNA was instrumental.

“I think this was a hard case to crack,” Moszkowicz said adding investigators continue to go through evidence to provide justice for the victim, and closure to her family and Big Island community.

Lauro was arrested once in 1987 for shoplifting, which would have been around 20 or 21 years old at the time. He’s had no other serious offenses since that time aside from traffic infractions and he was a petitioner in a domestic abuse case in 2022.