Maui police Friday reclassified the missing-person case of pregnant 27-year-old Carly "Charli" Scott as a homicide investigation.
Maui Police Department spokesman Lt. William Juan said, "(Detectives) have sufficient evidence to prove a homicide rather than a missing-persons case." Juan has not provided details about evidence or when or where it was collected.
No suspect or suspects have been arrested in the case, Juan said.
Shortly after police issued the news release about the reclassification Friday, Scott family friend Jeff Simon said on behalf of family members, "They’re (Scott family members) saddened to hear that it’s now confirmed to be a homicide, but they’re very happy for the continued effort by the Maui Police Department."
Kimberlyn Scott reported to police Feb. 10 that her daughter, who was five months pregnant, was missing.
Scott’s body has never been found since she was last seen Feb. 9 by her ex-boyfriend, Steven Capobianco, who asked her to take him to an area on Hana Highway because his truck had broken down there. He told Scott’s sisters and a reporter that he failed a police polygraph test.
Police named Capobianco as a person of interest but not a suspect.
The family released the following statement Friday afternoon on a Facebook page it has been using called "Find Charli Scott":
"It is with great sadness that we can confirm that the Scott family has been informed by Maui police that investigation into Charli’s disappearance has been reclassified as a homicide investigation.
"Without disclosing details of the ongoing investigation, we want to dispel rumors that Charli’s body has been recovered. Sadly, this is untrue. That said, we feel strongly that evidence of this crime should be presented in court and not via rumors and shoddy news reporting.
"We would like to thank the Maui police for their thorough work thus far and encourage the public to cooperate with them in their search to bring Charli and her unborn son’s killer to justice.
"Thank you and mahalo for your thoughts and prayers."
Kimberlyn Scott said in an interview Tuesday she wants to get Hawaii’s laws changed so the person responsible for her daughter’s death will also be held responsible for her unborn grandchild’s death. Carly Scott had chosen to name her son Joshua Aiden.
On Tuesday, police using Special Response Team officers and a fire helicopter searched the area where the burned-out shell of Scott’s SUV and clothing were found in February.
The community has rallied to search for Scott and 46-year-old Maui woman Moreira "Mo" Monsalve, who disappeared in January. Monsalve’s case remains classified as a missing-person case.
