Waikiki man charged in murder of woman

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police have charged a 39-year-old man with murdering a Mo'ili'ili woman, whose body was discovered early Saturday at a Waikiki apartment.

Evidence to support the second-degree murder charge against Donald Barry Marks includes security videotape at the condominium where the woman was killed, according a police affidavit filed yesterday in District Court. The affidavit says the tape shows Marks and the victim, Yoko Sanders, 38, on the fifth floor of a condominium at 2509 Ala Wai Blvd.

Marks lives in unit 506B at that address. Sanders' body was discovered in unit 504.

The woman was known to be a prostitute, police said.

An autopsy found that Sanders had been strangled. She had multiple stab wounds, and her head was found in a black plastic bag next to her body.

The affidavit filed by arresting officer Michael Choy said the videotape showed Sanders leaving an elevator with Marks on Friday night at 11:29 p.m. At 1 a.m. Saturday, Marks was videotaped carrying what appeared to be a large trash bag down the stairs in the lobby area, the affidavit stated.

Videotape showed the man disposing of the bag in the garage bin.

Police discovered a woman's handbag in a garbage bag found in the bin. According to the affidavit, a friend of Sanders said the bag belonged to Sanders.

Sanders' body was discovered by a male acquaintance at 5:45 a.m. Saturday. The friend had gone to check on Sanders when she failed to return home to her Mo'ili'ili apartment, police said.

Marks was arrested at 7:20 a.m. Saturday. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.