Visitor beaten, robbed by two men in hotel

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police sketch of one of the two robbers.

Instead, he was the victim of a robbery.

Willard, 40, a Newport News, Va., machinist, came to Hawai'i April 22 to work on Navy subs, most recently the USS Topeka.

Sunday morning at 7:30, he left his room at the Ohana Waikiki Village Hotel at 240 Lewers St. to do his laundry, then returned.

He was in a hurry to meet friends in the lobby for a trip to the flea markets before flying home the next day.

He'd already bought gifts and some gold-chain necklaces he was wearing. But Willard didn't know that hours earlier, a housekeeper reported her master key missing. Although hotel security started rekeying the system, at least three burglaries were already taking place.

And Willard, police detective Letha DeCaires of the CrimeStoppers program said, "was a victim of a burglary that was about to become a robbery."

He saw two men, both about 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 pounds, in their early 20s, one with a short black crew cut, the other with neck-length straight black hair, and tattoos on his arms.

"All of a sudden, you are fighting for your life," Willard said. One "stomped me on the face twice," breaking his nose. Willard didn't pass out, "but I wish I had."

They took $4,500 in jewelry.

"Jewelry can be replaced," Willard said. "I'm glad I'm still alive."

However, instead of going home to Virginia, Willard is still in Hawai'i while police try to catch the robbers.

Police are also searching for a slender 5-foot-tall woman in her early 20s, with black wavy shoulder-length hair, and a tan complexion. She was seen in another room.

To help, call police at 525-3115 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.