Posted on: Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Identity of Maui fire victim uncertain

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — The results of an autopsy yesterday indicated that a man who died in a Ha'iku house fire early Monday died of smoke inhalation, Maui police said yesterday.

The identity of the victim, who was burned beyond recognition, has not been determined, although he may be Lance Carrillo, 34, the man known to have resided in the Holokai Road house.

Acting Maui police Capt. Glenn Cuomo of the Criminal Investigation Division said investigators have found no evidence of foul play, even though some relatives of Carrillo reportedly said he may have died during a theft, because his pickup truck was stolen.

Police have recovered Carrillo's truck but detectives haven't linked that with the death, Cuomo said.

Investigators hope to use dental records to identify the victim. In the meantime, the investigation into the fire's cause, the man's death and the stolen vehicle continue.

Fire crews responded to the blaze shortly after midnight Monday. It was only after the fire was put out that the body was found by firefighters.

Maui fire marshal Neal Bal said he spent four hours searching through the rubble yesterday with help of family members to reconstruct the scene. He said the cause is "undetermined and pending further investigation."

Meanwhile, Maui authorities continue to investigate two other fires that have been labeled "suspicious."

A vacant, two-story building at the Aston Maui Lu Resort was destroyed Sunday afternoon by a fire that caused an estimated $114,000 in damage. In Waiehu Terrace, a fire that burned a 2- by 5-foot section of a roof on Olena Street Sunday night also may have been maliciously set.

There is no connection between the fires, said Acting Maui Assistant Fire Chief Frank Tam.