By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Homicide investigators are reviewing surveillance tapes of the downtown area where a 41-year-old homeless woman was found strangulated early yesterday.
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| Brenda Caves, a homeless woman, was found strangled on Fort Street Mall in downtown Honolulu. |
Brenda Caves was found dead in front of the Ross Dress For Less store on 1045 Fort Street Mall.
An autopsy confirmed she died of "asphyxia due to ligature strangulation," said Susan Starrett of the medical examiner’s office.
An anonymous caller notified police from a nearby pay phone at 12:52 a.m., saying there was a body near the store. When police arrived, they found Caves’ body, dressed in jeans, a shirt and boots, lying next to the bicycle rack fronting the store.
Police found abrasions on her neck and what appeared to be a "bite mark" on her right hand between her thumb and index finger, but there was no blood on the ground or signs of a struggle, according to Lt. Bill Kato, a homicide investigation with the Honolulu Police Department.
Caves’ backpack and jacket were found in a rubbish can nearby, said Kato.
Police found an object that may have been used to strangle her.
Investigators want to review surveillance tapes from cameras at the corner of Fort Street Mall and Hotel Street as well as King and Bishop street.
Evidence suggested that the victim was not sexually assaulted, Kato said, but police were awaiting confirmation from the medical examiner.
Caves was known to police. On Feb. 21 she allegedly interfered with an attempted murder investigation near the same location. In that incident, police said, Caves interfered after officers arrested an acquaintance, Vicki Goins, 37, who was accused of stabbing a 25-year-old man with a pocketknife. Caves was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a government operation and Goins was charged with second-degree assault. Goins’ bail was set at $20,000.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 911 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
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