Grand jury indicts Kauai man in cold case murder of wife

A grand jury indicted a 40-year-old Kalaheo man Tuesday, charging him with the 2006 murder of his estranged wife.

Darren Galas is being held in lieu of $1 million bail in connection with the death of Sandra Mendonca Galas, 27.

On Jan. 26, 2006, Sandra Galas, mother of two, was found dead in her car parked in the garage of her Eleele home. She died of strangulation with a plastic cord and blunt force trauma to her head.

Sandra Galas had filed for divorce and was in a custody battle with her husband at the time of her death. She worked as an assistant food and beverage manager at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in Poipu.

Attorney Michael Green is representing Darren Galas.