Pahoa, Hawai’i – Hawai’i Island police are investigating a homicide that occurred late Thursday night in the Nānāwale Estates subdivision of Pahoa. Officers responded to a domestic dispute on Lehua Road at approximately 11:25 p.m. after a woman called police dispatch, reporting that a man at the residence was unresponsive.
The caller, identified as 42-year-old Patricia Ann McConnell, stated that she and the 45-year-old male victim were involved in a domestic altercation. She claimed the man had attempted to kill her and that she strangled him in self-defense.
Responding officers located the man seated within the driver’s seat of a vehicle, slumped over. He was not breathing, no pulse was detected, and his face appeared purple. Officers immediately administered Narcan to the male, which proved ineffective. They then attempted the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), however, due to the victim’s condition, the device was not advised. Arriving Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel took over life-saving measures and transported the victim via ambulance to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center; he was pronounced dead at 11:57 p.m., while en route to the hospital.
McConnell was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree murder and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. She was transported to the Pāhoa Police Station for processing and later transferred to the East Hawai’i Detection Facility in Hilo. Upon arrest, McConnell was found in possession of a zip-packet containing a white crystalline substance in her pants pocket, which tested presumptive positive as methamphetamine.
The Area I Criminal Investigation Division is continuing its investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025, to determine the exact cause of death.
Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective David Po‘ohina of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385 or via email at David.Poohina@hawaiicounty.gov.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.