Girl’s death leads to man’s arrest

Big Island police arrested a 36-year-old Hilo man last week in connection with injuries to a 19-month-old girl who died Sunday.

Police identified the girl as Pomaikai K. Ferreira.

South Hilo patrol officers went to the Hilo Medical Center at 6:57 p.m. Jan. 2, where Ferreira had been taken by an adult, police said.

A preliminary exam showed the child’s injuries appeared to be suspicious, police said.

The toddler was transferred in critical condition by air ambulance to the Queen’s Medical Center.

That same night, police arrested the 36-year-old man on suspicion of first-degree assault. Detectives released him at 6:30 p.m. last Tuesday, pending investigation.

Police said the toddler was pronounced dead at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Queen’s.

An autopsy is scheduled for today to determine the cause of death.

The man had been convicted on Dec. 14, 2009, for misdemeanor abuse of a family member.

Anyone who has any information is asked to call Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or Detective Derek Morimoto at 961-2380.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Snorkeling visitor dies on Big Island

Big Island police were investigating the possible drowning of a Wisconsin visitor who was snorkeling with her family in South Kona yesterday.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death of Jodi Kessler, 51, of Hartland, Wis.

Kessler was snorkeling with relatives in Kaohe when she became distressed and began to struggle to stay afloat.

Relatives were able to get her to shore and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation just after 10 a.m. yesterday.

Firefighters took her to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 11:41 a.m.