HILO >> An Illinois man has pleaded no contest to allegations that he killed a woman.

Curtis Q. Hodges, 37, is expected to be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported. His plea deal calls for the state to recommend a 20-year minimum sentence. He appeared in court Wednesday and is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 14.

Hodges is accused of stabbing Danielle Caron, 49, to death in Hilo in August 2015.

Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Kagawa told the judge that if the case had gone to trial, the prosecution would have proven Hodges stabbed Caron “multiple times, resulting in her death.”

“There is video of the downtown area showing Mr. Hodges going into the area where Ms. Caron was observed. … And he was the only one leaving the area until the body is found,” Kagawa said. “There is also evidence — DNA that was found on Mr. Hodges’ clothing.”

Slayings of cattle increase

KAILUA-KONA >> Big Island cattle ranchers said there has been a troubling and significant increase in the number of cows being killed over the past few years.

The most recent killing occurred at Armando Rodriguez’s farm, West Hawaii Today reported. Police Capt. Kenneth Quiocho said the cow was slain about Nov. 19, but officers have no leads as to who killed it. None of the animal’s meat or body parts were taken.

Guy Galimba, a longtime cattle rancher in Naalehu, said eight or nine of his cows have been killed in the same fashion. Galimba said he and other ranchers believe a person or people are killing the animals for the thrill of it.

“It’s a constant thing we’re battling,” Galimba said. “Whether they’re shooting the cows or cutting the fences, it’s something we’re constantly having to deal with. I wouldn’t call it an isolated case.”

Some of the ranchers said they feel there’s nothing police can do to help, so they’ve stopped reporting the slayings.

Ricky Souza, who’s been farming and ranching all his life, said one of his cows was shot in the shoulder and left for dead last year.

“I told the cops about it, but they can’t do nothing about it,” Souza said. “They have to catch the person in the act.”