Update: Hilo man charged with murder after alleged stabbing of an elderly woman

1:55 p.m. March 30 update: A Hilo man arrested on suspicion of stabbing an elderly woman to death on Saturday was officially charged with second-degree murder and first-degree terroristic threatening.

Keone Peter Tosie Brown, 30, remains in police custody, and his bail is set at $2.02 million. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Monday in South Hilo District Court.

According to Hawai‘i Island police, Brown is accused of stabbing an 81-year-old woman in her home on the 200 block of Olu Street Saturday morning.

Original post: An 81-year-old Hilo woman was found dead Saturday morning outside her home after being violently stabbed multiple times in her face.

Hawai‘i Island police a short time later located and arrested one of her neighbors as her suspected killer.

Hilo patrol officers with Hawai‘i Police Department responded just before 7:30 a.m. Saturday to a report of an unresponsive elderly woman who was stabbed in the face at her home in the 200 block of ʻOlu Street.

Officers immediately found the 81-year-old woman lying in her driveway with multiple stab wounds to her face. Responding Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel determined the elderly woman was beyond live-saving measures.

A witness at the scene reported they saw one of the woman’s neighbors, later identified as 30-year-old Keone Peter Tosie Brown, allegedly stab the 81-year-old multiple times. The witness said Brown then turned his attention toward her and threatened her with the knife before retreating to his property.

Police located Brown on his property, which is adjacent to the victim’s property, hiding along the fence line, attempting to flee.

He was arrested without incident and transported to the East Hawai‘i Detection Facility in Hilo, pending investigation.

The victim was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center and officially pronounced dead at 9:57 a.m. An autopsy is scheduled for early next week to determine her exact cause of death.

Her identity is being withheld, pending positive identification and official notification to next of kin.

Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Division personnel responded to continue the investigation, which is classified as second-degree murder and first-degree terrorist threatening.

Police remain at the scene this afternoon, pending the issuance of a search warrant to search the property — including the victim’s home — for evidence.

Anyone who might have witnessed this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Duane Rapoza Jr. at 808-961-2383 or email him at Duane.Rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov.

They can also call the Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-3311.

Those who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.