Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Sunday, April 28, 2024 83° Today's Paper


Hawaii News

Escapee given 20 years in killing of Big Isle man

HILO >> A man who escaped from a mental hospital and went on to fatally stab a man on Hawaii island has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

David Seal was sentenced Thursday after pleading no contest to manslaughter in the November 2013 death of 32-year-old Rory Wick. Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Lee said the plea deal calls for Seal to return to the mental hospital after he completes his prison term, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Friday.

Seal was committed to the Hawaii State Hospital on Oahu in 2002 after being acquitted by reason of insanity in the kidnapping and attempted rape of an 8-year-old girl. He escaped from the facility in 2009 and had been living on Wick’s property when the stabbing occurred.

A local resident, Jun Mantupar, told the Tribune-Herald he had called CrimeStoppers about a month before the killing to report Seal had been taking martial arts lessons at a recreation center in Hilo under the name Serif Swaim.

“As the court is aware, at the time of the incident, the defendant had been on the run for four years after his escape from the Hawaii State Hospital. During that time he used an alias and lived among us in our own community,” said Deputy Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen.

When asked by Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara whether he wanted to address the court, Seal replied, “No, except there’s no ‘David’ in my name, your honor.”

Members of Wick’s family said they wished Seal would have said more.

“What would drive someone to kill someone who was actually watching out for him and was concerned about his well-being? Why would that turn?” said Lucia Samuels, grandmother of Wick’s three young children. “Was it the drugs and alcohol or his mental state? What was it? Because I want to be able to say something to these children someday, as soon as the opportunity arises to explain it better to them.”

3 responses to “Escapee given 20 years in killing of Big Isle man”

  1. pohaku96744 says:

    Hope Wicks get a good lawyer. They should file a civil suit against the State of Hawaii. This guy was found innocent of sex ass. on an 8 year old, because he is crazy, placed into a state mental facility. He then escapes, some how gets to Hilo. If he got there by plane, how did he get through another state facility policed by another state agency. If he went by boat that is another state facility policed by another state agency. Where is Will ESPRERO ? This then kills some one and now confined to prison….I guess he is not that crazy after all. Now 3 children don’t have a provider….. bet Eric Seitz is available with good private investigators…. heard he has former FBI agents working for him.

  2. cojef says:

    Can’t believe what I’m reading. An escapee from a mental institution convicted for a crime and sentenced to a prison term only to be returned to the State mental hospital? Strange? Was acquitted for raping an 8 year old girl due to insanity and committed to mental hospital. Which way is? “Kaa pa ka i”.

  3. toledo says:

    You and I provided legal assistance, housing, medical etc. so he can kick you in the balls.
    Then we do it all over and over again.
    Its called DOUBLE PENALTY For the victim and a free pass for these people.
    Like we need more of them in this world….go figure.
    Yes I am a radical.
    EYE FOR AN EYE I say…No assistance of any kind.
    This world is already too damn crowded.
    OR let the judge support him and others like him and don’t penalize the public further.

Leave a Reply