Still no leads a year after Hilo man found dead in his vehicle at farm where he worked

It’s been a year since a Big Island man was found dead in his vehicle at a farm outside Hilo, killed by a single gunshot wound, and Hawaiʻi Island police detectives have yet to get any breaks in the case.

They are again asking if anyone has any information about the December 2023 murder of 68-year-old Albert Harry Pacheco Sr. of Hilo.

South Hilo patrol officers responded shortly before 4:45 p.m. Dec. 3, 2023, to a report of a man, later identified as Pacheco, who was not responding and seated in his vehicle at the banana farm where he worked above ʻAlae Cemetery north of Hilo.

Pacheco had a single gunshot wound to his upper thigh.

A forensic pathologist, after performing an autopsy, ruled the Hilo man’s death a homicide.

The case was classified as a second-degree murder.

Hawaiʻi Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives have interviewed numerous witnesses during the past year, including employees of the banana farm and neighboring properties, as well as Pacheco’s friends and family members.

Neither motive nor a suspect have been identified.

Anyone who might have information relative to Pacheco’s murder is asked to contact Detective Christopher Jelsma at 808-961-2386 or via email at Christopher.Jelsma@hawaiicounty.gov or call the Hawaiʻi Police Department non-emergency number at 808-935-3311.

Those who want to remain anonymous can call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 808-961-8300.