Kona officer charged in wife's death
By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i — A Hilo police detective was charged today with second-degree murder and two other felonies in the shooting death of his wife in Waikoloa Village Friday evening.
Hawai'i County Police
Detective Albert Pacheco, 45, will be arraigned in South Hilo District Court tomorrow afternoon on the murder count, first-degree property damage and first-degree terroristic threatening.
Albert Pacheco has been a Hawai'i police officer for more than 20 years.
Pacheco, who had worked with the Honolulu Police Department for 10 years before joining the Big Island force 11 years ago, was held without bail tonight at the Hilo police cellblock.
Many questions remained unanswered today regarding details of the shooting and the officer's relationship with his wife, Cathalene Ann Pacheco , 42.
Police Chief Jimmy Correa began yesterday's press conference at the Hilo police station by promising a "fair and objective investigation" that will be led by assistant chief Wendell Paiva, Capt. James Day and Lt. Derek Pacheco, who is not related to the suspect.
All are Hilo based, officials stressed, to avoid any conflict for officers in Kona who had worked with the police sergeant. He is a father of five.
The Pacheco case is the second in recent years in which a police sergeant is accused of slaying his wife. In 1992, Sgt. Kenneth Mathison was accused of killing his wife, Yvonne, by running over her in Puna. He was convicted in 1995 of murder and is serving a life term in a Minnesota prison.
Police said they have found no known reports of domestic violence involving Albert Pacheco and his wife.
An autopsy was conducted at Hilo Medical Center yesterday by Honolulu forensic pathologist Dr. Alvin Omori, who said Cathalene Pacheco, a South Kohala real estate saleswoman, had been "died of multiple gunshots wounds to the head."
Police did not say if the firearm recovered at the shooting scene on a quiet Waikoloa Village street, was Pacheco's service revolver.
Police said Pacheco was off duty and operating his county-subsidized police car when he drove it into his wife's van around 7 p.m. Friday before opening fire on her. The van was being examined by detectives last night.
Correa said the incident points out "we must work hard to prevent domestic violence."
Pacheco has retained attorney Brian De Lima of Hilo. The prosecution case has been assigned to senior deputy Michael Udovic.
