A 25-year-old New Mexico woman whose body was found in nearshore waters fronting the Royal Hawaiian hotel on Oct. 2 died of "asphyxiation due to salt water drowning," the city Department of the Medical Examiner said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Aaron Susa, 31, who was released from jail the day before Bryanna Antone's body was found, was indicted by an Oahu grand jury yesterday on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with her death.

While presenting the grand jury's results, city Deputy Prosecutor Vickie Kapp told Circuit Judge Richard Perkins yesterday morning that the cause of Antone's death was drowning.

Until yesterday, the city medical examiner had not released a cause of death.

A police affidavit filed last week in District Court said Antone had injuries to her neck and chest and a crushed larynx . Several witnesses told police they saw a man sitting atop a woman in the area where Antone's body was found and that the woman appeared to be kicking and struggling with the man.

Beachgoers found Antone's body in the area a few hours later. After canvassing the area, police found a manila envelope containing what is believed to be a gold and white slipper worn by Antone and papers belonging to Susa, the affidavit said.

Susa made his initial appearance in District Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty.

Perkins yesterday approved a request by Kapp to continue Susa's bail at $500,000 and to issue a bench warrant, initiating the case against him in Circuit Court.

Susa is being held at Oahu Community Correctional Center.

Susa told police after he was arrested Oct. 5 that he had consensual sex with Antone in the ocean fronting the Royal Hawaiian and got into an argument with her immediately afterward, but said he did not kill her.

Susa told police he walked away toward the Hilton Hawaiian Village after the argument and that he last saw Antone walking away, unharmed, in the opposite direction.