Big Island resident indicted in 2008 murder

HILO » A man suspected of killing his wife in 2008 on Hawaii island has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge by a Hilo grand jury and was arrested Thursday.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports Alexander Malani Gambsky, 44, was indicted Wednesday in the death of 34-year-old Dawn Mancilla Gambsky. He was arrested at 4 p.m. at his home in Kurtistown. Bail was set at $1 million.

"When I took office, one of the things I said is we’re going to take a look at some of these cases," said Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth. "After we did an extensive and thorough review of the evidence and re-interviewed pretty much all of the witnesses, we made the decision to go forward with this case."

Roth said the investigation uncovered new details, but he would not reveal what they were.

He is confident, he said, he can win a conviction, and will try the case himself.

Dawn Gambsky, who sold pet clothing on the Internet for a living, was reported missing in July 2008 by friends who said they had not seen her in six months.

Alexander Gambsky told police that month that his wife had left him and did not live at the home they had shared. He said he saw her for the last time in January 2008, had talked to her once after that and had no way of contacting her.

According to court records, Gambsky answered questions as part of a polygraph test. Detective Rio Amon-Wilkins concluded that Gambsky "was being deceptive (about having) knowledge of the condition and location of his wife."

Police with a search warrant in August 2008 found Dawn Gambsky’s remains in the backyard of the home she had shared with her husband. Her body had been buried in a shallow grave.

Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Wendall Carter at 961-2378 or wcarter@co.hawaii.hi.us

Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 or 329-8181.