Missing man believed dead

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 38-year-old investigator with the city medical examiner's office was charged yesterday with the murder of a Kane'ohe man who had been missing since Friday.

Yorck Woita was last seen Friday, and a Manoa man has been charged with his murder.

Homicide Lt. Bill Kato said investigators yesterday were searching for Woita's body. Kato would not comment on how or why Woita was killed, but among the charges filed against Awana was the use of a firearm.

Woita's disappearance prompted an emotional plea on Monday from his mother, Beverly Lum, and sister, Tracy Woita, for witnesses to come forward. Lum said her son was a respectful person who was close to his family and she saw no sign of trouble.

Kato yesterday described Woita and Awana as friends and said they got into an argument Friday in a Nissan XTerra SUV near the Kailua Shopping Center. The vehicle was found about four hours later abandoned and burning on a back road in Waimanalo.

"There was an argument between them that escalated into physical violence and at that point Yorck was murdered," Kato said.

According to the affidavit, Woita and Awana scheduled a meeting Friday afternoon in Kailua. Woita had asked two friends while at a Waikiki hotel to come along to "watch his back," the court document said.

Shortly before 5 p.m. Friday, Awana, Woita and Woita's father met for about 10 minutes in Kailua, the affidavit said. Woita's father drove off and Awana later retrieved a black backpack from the trunk of his wife's car and got into Woita's SUV, it said.

The argument began and Woita and Awana left Kailua and drove to Awana's O'ahu Avenue home. The two witnesses said they called Woita several times while he was in the home and at one point Woita said Awana had a gun, but said he was "safe," the affidavit said.

The last time the two talked with Woita was 7:51 that evening and he failed to answer his phone after that, the document said.

Police began a surveillance of Awana's home Sunday morning. An officer said he saw Awana place boxes and garbage bags into the bed of a pickup truck and dump the items at the Kapa'a refuse transfer station in Kailua.

Police retrieved the boxes and bags and found marijuana and blood-stained towels and cement blocks, the affidavit said. At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Awana was arrested on drug charges.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, Awana confessed to killing Yorck, according to the affidavit.

Although Woita's body was not recovered as of yesterday afternoon, Kato said there was enough evidence found at Awana's home and in the SUV to charge Awana with the murder.

He added that the witnesses' statements were vital to the case.

"I believe (the key) was the witnesses who came forward right after Yorck failed to appear back at the hotel," Kato said. "These witnesses came forward, and they had some real good information."

Kato said Woita's family was told of the arrest and charges yesterday.

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.