Makawao boy held in assault of girl
By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor
MAKAWAO, Maui — A 13-year-old Makawao boy has been arrested in a kidnapping and sexual assault case with a chilling resemblance to last month's killing of a 6-year-old Big Island girl.
In this case, police say the suspect is accused of luring a 6-year-old girl into an abandoned house, where she was tied up and sexually assaulted before being discovered by other children.
The suspect, who was arrested shortly after the alleged attack Tuesday afternoon, remains in custody at an O'ahu youth detention facility.
The girl was at the Mayor Eddie Tam Gym in Makawao with family members for an older sibling's sporting event, said acting Lt. Michael Kaho'ohanohano of the Maui Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division. While playing outside the gym, the girl apparently was approached by the suspect, whom she did not know.
The boy reportedly led the girl to an abandoned house next to the gym on Makawao Avenue, where the assault took place, Kaho'ohano-
hano said. Neighborhood children who frequent the abandoned house found the girl and walked her back to the gym, he said. The girl's mother notified police at 5 p.m., and the suspect was arrested at the gym.
Although the circumstances are similar to the Sept. 27 sexual assault and killing of Kau'ilani Tadeo, 6, of Hawaiian Beaches on the Big Island, police said there is no indication so far that the Maui incident is a copycat case. The suspect did not made a statement to police.
In the Big Island case, the body of the girl was found in a vacant house in her neighborhood. A 14-year-old boy, who lives nearby and attends Pahoa Intermediate and High School, has been charged with sexual assault and murder.
Kaho'ohanohano said the Maui suspect lived near the gym, but the girl was from another Upcountry neighborhood.
The case is being investigated by Maui Police Department's Sex Crimes Unit, which handles sexual assaults involving adults and juveniles.
"This type of allegation where you have an age differential of 6 and 13 and it's a case where a stranger is involved is very rare, and obviously we're making it a very high priority," said acting CID Capt. Glenn Cuomo.
Word spread quickly through the Upcountry community. Makawao School principal Bruce Anderson said yesterday that many parents and children had already heard of the attack when they came to school Wednesday.
Anderson and officials at other Upcountry schools sent home letters informing parents of the alleged abduction and arrest, and advising them to discuss personal safety with their children.
Anderson's letter offered several safety tips for youngsters, including always walking in pairs or a group, not approaching or interacting with strangers, establishing a secret family password, and reporting suspicious behavior.
