HILO, Hawai'i — The husband of a Big Island woman found buried behind her Orchidland Estates home in Puna last month initially told police that his wife left him, but later told his new girlfriend that his wife hanged herself in the carport of the couple's home, according to court records.

Friends of Dawn K. Gambsky, also known as Dawn Mancilla, last saw the 34-year-old at her Orchidland home in January, and began asking police to check on her whereabouts on July 21.

Police say Gambsky's husband, Alexander Gambsky, interviewed July 27 as part of a missing-persons case, told them his wife had moved out of their rural home on 37th Avenue in mid-January.

Gambsky also told investigators he had been romantically involved with a co-worker since January, and that his wife might have known about the affair, according to court records.

On Aug. 4, his girlfriend told police she had asked Gambsky what really happened to his wife, and he told her he returned home to the 37th Avenue house in mid-January to find Dawn Gambsky had committed suicide by hanging herself in the carport, according to court records.

Police have not arrested Alexander Gambsky, who is not considered a homicide suspect at present, police said.