Hilo, Hawai’i – Keone Peter Tosie Brown, 30, of Hilo, has been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree terroristic threatening following a violent stabbing incident that claimed the life of an 81-year-old woman on Saturday morning, March 29, 2025, on the 200-block of Olu Street.
According to police reports, Hilo patrol officers responded to a call at 7:22 a.m. reporting an unresponsive woman who had been stabbed in the face in front of her residence. Upon arrival, officers found the victim lying in her driveway with multiple stab wounds to her facial area. She was later pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center at 9:57 a.m. Her identity is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.
The suspect, later identified as Brown, was located on his property, which adjoins the victim’s residence. Police say he was observed attempting to flee along the property fence line and was subsequently arrested without incident.
A witness at the scene told police that after witnessing Brown stab the victim multiple times, he turned his attention towards her and threatened her with the knife before retreating to his property.
Following an investigation, Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives, in consultation with the Hawai‘i County Prosecutors Office, charged Brown on Sunday, March 30, at 10:30 a.m. with second-degree murder and first-degree terroristic threatening. His bail was set at $2,020,000, and he remains in police custody.
Police remained on scene at Brown’s residence pending the issuance of a search warrant to search the property for evidence.
An autopsy is scheduled to be performed early this week to determine the exact cause of death.
Brown is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Monday, March 31, in South Hilo District Court.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Duane Rapoza Jr., of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2383, or via email at Duane.Rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov. This case is currently being investigated under report number 25-028832.
