January’s Waimea murder investigation forwarded to Hawai‘i County’s prosecuting attorney for review

An investigation into the suspected murder of a woman in Waimea in January has been forwarded to the Office of the Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney for review of official charges.

The investigation in the death of Leah Bannister, 40, of Kurtistown, began on Jan. 3, when Hawai‘i Police Department’s South Kohala patrol officers responded to the 61-4100 block of Kalooloo Drive following a report of a traffic collision and altercation that let the woman unconscious.

Initially classified as an assault investigation, authorities reclassified it as a second-degree murder investigation following Bannister’s death.

Detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigation Section conducted numerous witness interviews and extensive follow-up throughout the investigation. As a result of their investigation, three adult suspects and two juvenile suspects have been identified.

According to a press release from police in January, officers learned that Bannister, who was driving a Nissan SUV, accelerated in the direction of a minor girl and an adult man. The 40-year-old then reportedly continued forward and collided with a nearby parked vehicle occupied by two children.

The Nissan SUV then reversed a short distance before a 38-year-old man reportedly approached the driver’s side window and punched Bannister, causing her to lose consciousness.

Bannister was taken to the Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital for treatment, where she succumbed to her injuries on Jan. 4.

The completed investigation has been forwarded to the Hawaiʻi County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for review and charging consideration.

Police ask anyone with information related to this investigation to contact Detective Bradley Llanes of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at 808-326-4646, ext. 268, or via email at Bradley.Llanes@hawaiipolice.gov.