The Maui Police Department on Tuesday identified the ex-boyfriends of two missing Maui women as persons of interest but not suspects.
Bernard Brown declined to take a polygraph test or provide a statement to police in the disappearance of ex-girlfriend Moreira "Mo" Monsalve, 46, last seen by him Jan. 12, but there is no evidence to make him a suspect, police Capt. John Jakubczak said at a news conference held Tuesday.
Brown has left Maui, and police acknowledged receiving criticism for allowing him to leave, but "we had nothing to keep him here," he said. "I’m sure if we need to get in touch with him, we can," but police have not kept contact with him.
Police also have no evidence linked to the ex-boyfriend of missing pregnant woman Carly "Charli" Scott that would establish him as a suspect. In that case, Steven Capobianco told a Hawaii News Now reporter that police said he had failed a lie-detector test. Police would not confirm that.
Scott, 27, was last seen the night of Feb. 9 by Capobianco, who asked her to drive him on Hana Highway to where his truck broke down in Keanae. After he fixed the truck, she followed him back, but he lost sight of her, he told an HNN reporter.
Jakubczak, stationed on Molokai, was brought back to Maui this week to head MPD’s Criminal Investigation Division and addressed the media Tuesday afternoon following criticism from friends and families of the women and the community because of a dearth of information and the handling of these back-to-back missing-person cases.
Police Chief Gary Yabuta said the cases "remain paramount of concern and our department’s highest priority." He thanked other agencies and the women’s families for their efforts.
Yabuta said he is proud of the department’s work in both cases, "I see their efforts each day and night when they return from a search, only to return again after a much-needed rest."
Jakubczak assured the media that police have made numerous searches and check every tip.
Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said his office has received a lot of phone calls from the public about these cases, adding he has the utmost confidence that the police will not rest until they are solved. He urged the public to be patient.
Hundreds of family members, friends and community members have conducted their own massive searches for the women using private helicopters and other resources.
Private search parties found Scott’s vehicle Feb. 12, apparently torched, and her clothing and personal items Feb. 13, but the items have yet to be processed and sent to a laboratory for analysis, Jakubczak said.
Monsalve’s daughter reported her missing Jan. 14, and her personal belongings were found in a Wailuku dumpster Jan. 16.
