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Man charged with murder after autopsy of decomposed body

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HAWAII COUNTY POLICE Barton Bumatay
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HAWAII COUNTY POLICE Eric Fontes

Authorities charged a 34-year-old man today with the shooting death of a man whose decomposed body was found over the weekend in Puna.

Eric Fontes Jr., who has no permanent address, is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree theft, terroristic threatening and a firearms violation. He is also charged with two unrelated drug offenses

Fontes was being held on $725,000 bail, pending a court appearance Friday

Authorities used dental records to identify the victim as 59-year-old Barton Allen Bumatay, of Keaau.

Bumatay had been missing since New Year’s Eve.

An autopsy determined that he died from gunshot wounds.

Detectives investigating the case discovered Bumatay’s body Saturday in the area of Beach Road off Makuu Drive in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision.

At the time, police said the body was too decomposed to determine the identity or even the gender of the victim.

Police said Bumatay’s stolen truck was recovered Wednesday from Mountain View.

Officers arrested Fontes in Hilo on Tuesday.

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