Two Visitors Arrested on Manslaughter Charges Following Deadly Night out in Kailua-Kona

Correction: The two suspects were ARRESTED on charges of manslaughter. A previous headline said they would both FACE manslaughter charges. One suspect, Alexander Germany-Wald, was released after further investigation and faces no charges. Benjamin Fleming was ultimately charged with manslaughter.

A night out in Kailua-Kona turned deadly for a visitor from the mainland.

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating the death of a 30-year-old man after he was involved in a reported physical altercation with his roommates at a vacation rental. The department confirmed that two individuals with home addresses on the mainland have been arrested on manslaughter charges following events that occurred early Monday morning.

At 2:09 am on Monday, March 29, 2021, dispatch received a call of a man who was unresponsive and not breathing in the 75-5800 block of Walua Road in Kailua-Kona. Upon officers arrival, Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel were observed performing CPR on the victim. Attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful.

The two roommates of the victim were identified as 31-year-old Alexander Germany-Wald, of Boston, Massachusetts, and 37-year-old Benjamin Fleming, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Both men are being held at the Kealakehe Police Station cellblock pending further investigation by the Area II Criminal Investigation Section.

A preliminary investigation has determined that a verbal argument between the men escalated and turned physical. Investigators also requested video footage from several bars in Kailua-Kona to help identify and locate those individuals involved.

Big Island Now was able to confirm that the victim of the assault was also an individual from the mainland. That person’s name will not be released until next of kin are notified.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Tyler Prokopec at (808) 326-4646 Ext. 224, or via email at tyler.prokopec@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.