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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:05 p.m., Sunday, April 27, 2008

Hawaii Kai woman, 22, charged in slaying

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Rihanna Joy Valentino, aka Melissa Ordonez

Courtesy of Honolulu Police Department

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Charles Lee Freeman, left, and Jerrico Dewon Lindsey

Advertiser library photo

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A 22-year-old Hawai'i Kai woman charged Friday with first-degree kidnapping and armed robbery allegedly set up a drug-related heist which ended with the slaying of a North Hollywood man in Kane'ohe last year, according to a police affidavit filed at District Court.

Rihanna Joy Valentino, whose legal name was Melissa Ordonez last May 14 when Benjamin Grajeda was kidnapped and gunned down on Kane'ohe Bay Drive, is accused of conspiring with Jerrico Dewon Lindsey and Charles Lee Freeman Jr. to rob Grajeda of a large sum of money and drugs he kept in his residence at 44-101B Pu'uohalai Place, the document stated.

Valentino is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the main police station cellblock pending her initial appearance tomorrow at District Court.

Lindsey, the accused shooter, and Freeman, the alleged getaway car driver, are awaiting trial. Lindsey is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree terroristic threatening, and five firearm offenses while Freeman is charged with kidnapping and hindering prosecution.

A third male suspect remains at large.

While not stated directly, the report hints at a possible double cross.

The affidavit written by homicide Detective Kenneth Higa alleges Ordonez met with with Lindsey, Freeman and the third suspect the weekend before the murder and showed them where Grajeda did his drug business and parked his sports utility vehicle. She also allegedly told Lindsey about the large sum of money and drugs Grajeda kept in the house and agreed to help them with the robbery, the document said.

On May 14, Ordonez called Lindsey while Grajeda was showering and told him she was going to send Grajeda to the store and that they could come to the apartment after he left. The trio searched the apartment but found nothing and Grajeda returned while they were still there, the affidavit said.

Lindsey and Grajeda started fighting and the other two male suspects jumped in, beating Grajeda until he was unconscious, the document said. Ordonez ignored Grajeda's pleas for help while standing watch near the door and allegedly said repeatedly, "Hurry up, make him be quiet, people might hear," the report said.

The document added, Freeman taped Grajeda's mouth and the trio carried him to their car and placed him in the trunk. Instead of leaving with the trio, Ordonez decided to drive Grajeda's SUV but could not because one of the trio had the keys, which was later discarded on Kane'ohe Bay Drive.

Grajeda managed to open the trunk and was shot while trying to escape.

Ordonez was allegedly the last person alone in Grajeda's apartment and also the last person to leave, the document said. The large sum of money and drugs that were allegedly in Grajeda apartment was never recovered.

After the shooting, Ordonez allegedly left Grajeda's apartment and caught a cab to a fast-food restaurant where she gave the male cabbie a large amount of cash and told him "to forget that he saw her," the affidavit said.

Ordonez called another male friend and asked him to pick her up and drive her to her Honolulu apartment.

From the apartment, she called police four hours later and reported masked men had kidnapped Grajeda. She later changed her initial statement to police and identified Lindsey, Freeman and the third male suspect as the ones who beat Grajeda to steal drugs and money.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.