Hawai’i Island police are investigating the discovery of a body found Wednesday evening, July 27, 2022, in the Ka‘ū district.

Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section were alerted to the location of a partially buried body on a remote side road off of Highway 11, south of the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park boundary.

On Thursday morning, July 28, the badly decomposed body was transported to the Hilo Medical Center for official pronouncement of death.

An autopsy was performed Friday morning, July 29, and the final results are pending.

The identity of the victim is unknown at this time. Detectives are currently reviewing active missing person cases. Attempts to positively identify the victim will likely be done by means of DNA comparison. The name of the deceased will be released once the victim is identified and next of kin is notified.

Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378 or email Jeremy.Kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov.