Neighbor Island briefs

Advertiser Staff

Woman charged in daughter's death

HILO, Hawai'i — A former Big Island woman accused of starving her infant daughter to death two years ago surrendered to authorities yesterday morning.

Police Lt. Derek Pacheco said Saraswati Mulder, 23, turned herself in around 8 a.m.

Later in the day, she was processed in South Hilo District Court and sent to the Hilo jail pending further proceedings.

Her bail is set at $1 million.

The woman, who also is known as Saraswati Gopi Lacasse, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her 10-week-old child, Manjai Mulder, who died Oct. 27, 1999.

Mulder was indicted last Dec. 6 but failed to show up for her arraignment.

Mulder is accused of murder by omission for failing to properly nourish her daughter or to obtain medical care for her.

Big Island home destroyed by fire

OCEAN VIEW, Hawai'i — A fire Tuesday night destroyed a rural Ka'u home in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates.

Firefighters said the single-family residence sustained $70,000 damage from the blaze that began shortly before midnight.

Its tenant, Chris Livesay, was in the process of moving out when the fire started in a back bedroom, possibly from a leak in a propane line, officials said. Information on the property owner was not available.

Acting Capt. Victor Boranian said the dozen firefighters, including eight volunteers, saved a small greenhouse, storage shed and part of the carport.