Big Island woman found dead in gulch
Hawai'i Police Department detectives say they are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found Thursday at the bottom of a 120-foot gulch in Papa'aloa, North Hilo.
She was identified as 30-year-old Jonelle Alvarez of Honomu.
A report that a woman had jumped or fallen from a bridge initially brought North Hilo Patrol officers to the area of Moanalulu Bridge, in the area of the 24-mile marker on Hawai'i Belt Road, around 2:10 a.m. Thursday.
Fire rescue personnel found the body in the gulch at 9:30 a.m.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
Anyone with information can call Lt. Mitch Kanehailua at 808-961-2252 or the Police Department's nonemergency line at 808-935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 808-961-8300 in Hilo or 808-329-8181 in Kona. All CrimeStoppers information is kept confidential.