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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Autopsy shows fall caused death of San Jose woman on Big Island


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

William Brill

Courtesy of Hawaii Police Dept.

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

San Jose resident Karen Marie Celaya, right, who died Saturday in a fall from a Big Island hotel balcony, is seen with her daughter Crystal Chacon in this handout photo.

Family handout, Courtesy of San Jose Mercury News

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An autopsy conducted yesterday afternoon determined that a 52-year-old California woman died Saturday night in Kailua, Kona, of multiple traumatic injuries due to a fall from height.

Hawaii County police officers responding to a call shortly after 10 p.m. found Karen Marie Celaya, of San Jose, on rocks below the second-floor balcony of her hotel room.
William Brill, 58, also of San Jose, was arrested on suspicion of murder after officers learned that other hotel guests had reported a heated argument in the room occupied by Brill and Celaya.
Brill was released yesterday pending further investigation.
The San Jose Mercury News reported today that Brill is a former longtime San Jose police and fire retirement board member and a city civil service commissioner.