Broad effort propelled search
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Honolulu police are crediting two things for the swift arrests in the Kahealani Indreginal case — pouring on extra manpower and getting solid help from the community.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
The 11-year-old girl, who was last seen at about 3 p.m. Tuesday by a friend at the Pu'uwai Momi housing complex in Makalapa, was reported missing Wednesday. Police began the search that day and by Thursday morning had set up a command post in a parking lot adjacent to Aloha Stadium to conduct a search of the area.
Honolulu police Maj. Darryl Perry, right, and homicide Lt. Bill Kato yesterday discussed their handling of the Kahealani Indreginal case.
Based on her character traits, police suspected early on that Kahealani was more likely the victim of an abduction than a runaway.
"With child abductions, time is of the essence," HPD homicide Lt. Bill Kato said. "We start (the investigation) with people close to the (victim) — family, acquaintances, friends — and move on through a process of elimination."
The case was given top-priority status and police administrators committed extra manpower.
With help from state Public Safety and Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel, and the FBI, there was more than enough manpower, Kato said. It allowed police to spread the investigation. "We were able to talk to a lot of people and covered a five-mile radius in a short time."
Police were overwhelmed with tips from residents at the housing complex on the first day.
"Because the command post was across the street (from the complex), the tips we received were overwhelming and out of control," Kato said. "Things settled down on the second day. We got a constant flow of tips that had more substance from the second day."
Police learned from witnesses that Kahealani was seen talking to a "thin, haole man" shortly before her disappearance, Kato said.
Douglas Kruse, a wanted felon and distant relative of the missing girl, fit the description. He had been seen near the area where Kahealani disappeared. "She was seen talking to someone, and we're told she didn't talk to strangers," Kato said.
Kruse was eventually ruled out as a possible suspect. But police continued to receive information from residents at the complex.
On Friday, when a girl's body was found in brush off the 'Aiea Loop Trail, police moved to question the 20-year-old fiance of Kahealani's stepsister, Tanya Mamala-Tumbaga. Christopher Clayburn Aki agreed to cooperate and met homicide detectives at the main station.
After giving statements to police, Aki was arrested on suspicion of murder at 8:40 p.m.
A second suspect, 31-year-old Robert Edmund Hicks II, was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after midnight yesterday at Pearl City's Blaisdell Park.
Although police were looking to question a third man, investigators appear confident Aki and Hicks are the primary suspects. Police said the girl was killed for her gold jewelry and they believe the robbery is drug-related.
Police technicians impounded the car they believe was used in the abduction.
The overall team effort that led to a swift resolve was encouraging, Kato said.
Although Kahealani's case would not have fit into the new MAILE (Minor Abduction In Life-Threatening Emergency) Alert program, it does serve as a learning experience, Kato said. "It gives us a basic working model and tells us where we need to adjust," he said.
Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8181.
