Posted at 4:40 p.m., Thursday, July 20, 2006
Big Island man killed in house fire identified
Advertiser Staff
A man killed in a home destroyed by fire in the Ahualoa on July 1 has been identified by Hawai'i County police as King B. Prine, 30, of Ahualoa.While Hamakua police had suspected the victim was Prine, the body found at the home was burned beyond recognition and it wasn't until later that his identify was confirmed through dental records, according to Lt. Randall Medeiros of the Criminal Investigation Division.
Patrol officers went to the house in response to a reported violation of a protective order, Medeiros said. A temporary restraining order had been filed against Prine by his estranged wife.
After making verbal contact with a man at the house, the man remained inside and directed them to leave. Police also detected the strong smell of gasoline, Medeiros said.
A short time later, police heard an explosion and the home became engulfed in flames. After the fire was extinguished, the body was found in the charred remains of the house. An autopsy found that the man died from thermal injuries sustained in the fire.
