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Hawaii News

Foster Village couple in their 80s found dead in possible murder-suicide

ROB SHIKINA / RSHIKINA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Police said an 83-year-old man apparently killed his wife and then himself Friday in this Foster Village home at 4321 Punihi St.

The 83-year-old man who police said apparently killed his wife in a murder-suicide in Foster Village on Friday had changed over the years, from a friendly neighbor to one increasingly bad-tempered and paranoid, neighbors said today.

The killing took place at 4321 Punihi St., neighbors said. A neighbor and property tax records identified the couple, who had lived at the home for about a decade, as Winton Leong Sr. and his wife, Josephine.

Police said the double slaying happened sometime between 4:30 and 9:40 p.m. Friday. That night, officers were sent on a welfare check to the home and found Josephine, 82, lifeless with multiple injuries. Winton was next to her with what appeared to be a self-inflicted fatal wound, police said. At least one had what appeared to be a gunshot wound, police said.

Police did not give a motive, but said both were possibly in “ailing condition.” A second-degree murder investigation has been opened.

A neighbor, who lives across the street and declined to give her name, said the couple’s grandson reported the incident after he stopped by and the couple didn’t respond.

She said the Leongs were friendly when they moved in — Winton used to bring mangos and golf balls to her husband, and Josephine was a “sweet” woman who watched over her neighbor’s home.

But after the two were in a car crash several years ago, their health began to decline and Winton’s personality changed. Josephine began using a wheelchair and was rarely seen; Winton used a cane. Winton cared for his wife, and the couple built a small cottage on their property for easier access.

Winton began yelling at others and accusing them of stealing, neighbors said, and they saw him point a handgun at a tenant living on his property.

Residents in the close-knit neighborhood began avoiding the couple. A next-door neighbor said he heard pounding Friday night and suspected Winton was upset again.

“I never thought he do this kind of stuff,” he said.

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