Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
Police said Thursday they have not found the body of a 39-year-old Kalihi woman missing since November who is the subject of a murder investigation.
Helen Prestosa, who was battling both breast and bone cancer, was last seen at about 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in Kalihi.
Jhun Ley Irorita, 25, who was described as a suspect in the case, was released from custody late Wednesday. The city prosecutor’s office said there wasn’t enough evidence currently to pursue a case against Irorita.
A CrimeStoppers bulletin was issued Monday identifying Irorita as a suspect after he had avoided police over the weekend. He was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. Monday at a Waipahu home on suspicion of second-degree murder and resisting arrest. A caller responding to the CrimeStoppers bulletin had reported seeing him in Waipahu.
Prestosa was initially reported as a missing person, but police reclassified the case as second-degree murder after detectives determined that she was the victim of foul play.
A member of Prestosa’s family said she had never heard of Irorita before police named him as a suspect.
Prestosa was manager at a Jack in the Box restaurant in Kalihi.
Alleged threat against judge investigated
Hawaii County police said Thursday they have been working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate an alleged threat against a judge on Hawaii island.
Police said they received information Monday that a threat might have been made against a sitting judge.
Detectives are investigating it as a first-degree terroristic threatening case.
Police did not identify the judge or which court the judge serves in.
73