Nā‘ālehu woman found guilty as charged in murder of East Hawai‘i woman

A Hilo jury found 61-year-old Patricia Wong of Nā‘ālehu guilty as charged in relation to the June 2009 murder of Kaycee Smith at a residence in the Orchidland Estates subdivision.

After reading the jury’s guilty verdict on Thursday afternoon, Prosecutors requested that Wong, who was previously released on $250,000 bail, be denied bail. In response, the Court increased Wong’s bail to $5,000,000 and she was taken into custody.

Wong was originally indicted on a single charge of Murder in the Second Degree in June 2016. On December 28, 2022, prosecutors indicted additional charges against Wong and named Peter Fuerte as an alleged co-conspirator and accomplice.

Wong was charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of criminal solicitation.

Fuerte was charged with second-degree accomplice to murder and second-degree accomplice to attempted murder.

Wong was ordered to appear for her sentencing hearing on February 27, 2024.

“We hope that this verdict brings some sense of closure for Kaycee Smith’s family and friends,” said Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen. “This verdict was the result of the hard work and dedication of our police, victim advocates, and prosecutors, especially Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Annaliese Wolf, Matthew Woodward, and Duane Kokesch. I would also like to the thank the jury for their time and service.”