Update: Police identify victim in Saturday’s violent murder of an elderly woman in Hilo

Update at 11:58 a.m. Hawai‘i Island police have identified the victim of the violent early morning stabbing in Hilo on March 29 as 81-year-old Lola Linda Loebl, of Hilo.

On Sunday morning, March 30, the suspect in this case, 30-year-old Keoni Peter Tosie Brown was charged with the following offenses:

• Second-degree murder
• First-degree terroristic threatening

Brown’s bail was maintained at $2,020,000 and a preliminary hearing is set for South Hilo District Court on April 2.

An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Friday, April 4, to determine Loebl’s exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Duane Rapoza Jr., of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2383, or via email at Duane.Rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov.

Original: A Hilo District Court judge maintained bail for a man accused of fatally stabbing an elderly woman in the face over the weekend.

Keoni Brown appeared before Judge Jeffrey Hawk on Monday on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree terroristic threatening. Hawk maintained the 30-year-old’s bail at $2.02 million and was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on April 2.

According to a probable cause statement filed with the court Monday, Brown was identified by a witness in a photo lineup as the individual responsible for stabbing the elderly woman at her home on the 200 block of ‘Olu Street in Hilo on Saturday.

At approximately 7:15 a.m. on Saturday, the witness, who lives nearby, heard yelling from across the street.

When she stepped outside, the witness said her elderly neighbor’s dog ran toward her. Soon after, the witness saw the suspect, who she also believed lives on ‘Olu Street, attempting to stab the woman.

According to court documents, the witness said the victim was raising her arms in an attempt to defend herself. She then witnessed Brown wrap his free arm around the victim and stabbed her in the mouth.

Court documents indicate that Brown held the victim until she collapsed to the ground. Afterward, he ran toward the elderly woman’s garage. At that point, the witness called 911.

After notifying police, the witness told authorities she went to the victim’s residence where she encountered Brown. Brown, who standing on the roadway in front of the victim’s residence, reportedly made stabbing motions toward the witness.

When officers arrived on scene, they found the victim lifeless lying face up in her driveway with stab wounds to her face and mouth.

While at the scene, police located Brown on the south side of another nearby residence when the witness stated: “That’s him! That’s him!”

Police secured search warrants later that day and searched the residence where Brown was apprehended, including a shipping container where Brown lives, and found the clothing he reportedly wore during the stabbing.

A large knife with a silver blade and black handle was also found submerged in water within a black plastic container.