Wife faces hindering count
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
A 35-year-old woman has been charged with hindering the prosecution of her husband, who is accused of murdering a Kane'ohe man missing since Friday.
Jody Awana was released after posting $100,000 bail.
Gregory Awana
Jody Awana
Yorck Woita
Homicide Lt. Bill Kato said the hindering charge is related to the murder case.
Awana's husband, Gregory Awana, 39, is charged with murdering Yorck K. Woita, 28, and disposing of his body. He was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder, auto theft, second-degree criminal property damage, firearm offenses and commercial promotion of marijuana.
Gregory Awana is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
According to police, Gregory Awana has confessed to killing Woita.
His wife was charged with first-degree hindering prosecution for allegedly assisting him in removing items used in the commercial growing of marijuana from a house at 2356 O'ahu Ave. in Manoa.
City spokesman Doug Woo said Gregory Awana has been working for the medical examiner's office since May 19, his job status still probationary. Gregory Awana also was employed as a state deputy sheriff for a year or two about eight to 10 years ago, said First Deputy Sheriff Cappy Caminos.
Police conducted an air search of coastlines in Leeward and Windward O'ahu for Woita's body.
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.
Police have described Woita and Gregory 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.
The two argued and the dispute escalated into violence and Woita was murdered, police said.
Gregory Awana was seen Sunday placing boxes and garbage bags into the bed of a pickup truck and later dumping the items at the Kapa'a refuse transfer station, investigators said. Police later recovered boxes and bags and found marijuana and bloodstained towels, police said.
Advertiser staff writer Curtis Lum contributed to this report. Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8181.
