Hawaii island police have reclassified the death of a Wainaku woman — who died mysteriously nine months after her daughter was beaten to death — as a murder.
Sommer Ferreira, 20, was found dead in the laundry room of a Wainaku residence Sept. 20, 2011.
Based on circumstances at the time of the incident, no foul play was suspected, according to police. However, police later described the death as "suspicious."
On Friday police announced the case had been reopened after more information had been received regarding Ferreira’s death. Police did not indicate what that information included, but said a suspect had been identified and that the case had been routed to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for review.
On Jan. 2, 2011, Ferreira’s 18-month-old daughter, Pomaikai, was admitted to Hilo Medical Center after experiencing difficulty breathing. She was transferred to the Queen’s Medical Center, where she died Jan. 9, 2011. An autopsy indicated that she died from "intercranial injury due to repetitive abusive head trauma."
Sommer Ferreira’s live-in boyfriend, Xavier Cortez Jr., was initially arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault of the child but was released pending investigation.
Cortez, 39, was re-arrested Jan. 28 following a tip to police and was charged with second-degree murder. The former professional boxer pleaded not guilty in his initial court appearance Jan. 29 and was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail. His trial was initially set for June 2 but was rescheduled for Oct. 20.
Cortez’s criminal record in Hawaii dates to 1992 and includes eight convictions for misdemeanor shoplifting, contempt of court and abuse of a family or household member. Cortez was also convicted in Nevada of child neglect.
