Drowning victim ID’d as traveling nurse from Chicago

Police have confirmed the body of a woman recovered Sunday from the Wailuku River in Hilo was that of 28-year-old Kelly Mrowinski, a traveling nurse from Chicago.

Mrowinski had gone hiking with a male co-worker above Piihonua Falls on Jan. 26 when they were swept into the river by apparent flash flood waters.

The man was able to swim ashore, but a search was unable to locate Mrowinski.

The pathologist who performed the autopsy concluded the cause of death of “freshwater drowning” and found Mrowinski’s death was accidental.