Police Identify Victim in Kona Manslaughter Case

A visitor to the Big Island who died following an altercation with his vacation rental roommate in the early morning hours of Monday, March 29, has been identified.

Hawai`i Island police identified the victim as 30-year-old Abhishek Gupta of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

On Monday morning, shortly after 2:09 am, Kona Patrol officers responded to the 75-5800 Block of Walua Road, Kailua-Kona, after central dispatch received a 911 call of a man not breathing. It was later determined that a physical altercation took place amongst roommates. The victim was later transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy was performed yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, March 30, and found the cause of death to be strangulation and manner of death to be homicide.

Benjamin Fleming, 37, also of Pittsburgh, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death. His initial court appearance took place Wednesday morning.