Suspect had history of violence
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i — The man who police say shot a Hawaiian Acres couple Sunday before killing himself had a long history of domestic violence and was being sought by police for violating a temporary restraining order filed on behalf of the victims' daughter, who was his ex-girlfriend.
Nat Kalae Eckman, 33, who shot himself with a rifle Monday morning, also had mental problems and was hospitalized earlier this month after attempting suicide, according to Family Court records.
Nat Kalae Eckman, who was wanted for questioning in a fatal shooting at a rural Upper Puna subdivision Sunday, was found dead Monday.
Police investigating the shootings said they found empty packets containing crystal methamphetamine residue in Eckman's car.
He had gone to the home of former girlfriend Ashley McDonald's parents to visit his 3-year-old daughter, whom he had with McDonald. The girl lived with grandparents John and Doraline McDonald on Road 1 in the Puna subdivision. As the visitation was ending shortly before 8:15 p.m. Sunday, Eckman shot the couple with a small-caliber handgun and left with the little girl, said police Capt. Samuel Thomas.
John McDonald, 62, died of gunshot wounds to the upper body, and Doraline McDonald, 57, was hospitalized at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu with gunshot wounds to the face and head. She was last reported in critical condition. The hospital yesterday would not release information about Mrs. McDonald.
Thomas said Eckman then dropped his daughter at the home of a friend, who turned the child over to another member of the girl's family.
A police negotiator contacted Eckman by cellular telephone after the shootings and tried to talk him into surrendering, but Eckman stopped responding to police calls, Thomas said.
On Monday, police responding to a report of a possible suicide found Eckman's body at another Hawaiian Acres home several miles from the McDonalds' house. Thomas said Eckman apparently shot himself with a .30-.30-caliber rifle, and police also recovered a .22-caliber revolver with ammunition.
Ashley McDonald, 20, and Eckman lived together for more than five years until they split up in April. McDonald in August filed for a temporary restraining order to keep Eckman away from her, according to Family Court records.
Eckman had criminal cases pending against him for abusing McDonald in early August 2002, and for repeatedly violating the restraining order McDonald obtained against him in August of this year.
McDonald said in her filing for a restraining order that Eckman beat her during their relationship and stalked her after they broke up. On different occasions he threatened to shoot her, stab her or cut her throat, according to her court filings.
Eckman was arrested Oct. 4 for terroristic threatening and violating the restraining order, but returned to McDonald's home the following day after he was released and threatened to break her neck if she called police, according to court records. He was again arrested, and again released on bail.
Thomas said Eckman allegedly violated the restraining order again Sunday afternoon, and police were looking for him.
Two other women who had relationships with Eckman also filed for restraining orders against him in years past. One of the women alleged that Eckman entered her new boyfriend's home with a gun and made her leave with him. The woman would not press charges in the case, according to court records.
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.
