Police release father of ‘Peter Boy’

Police have released 45-year-old Peter J. Kema Sr. of Pahoa from custody pending further investigation into possible firearms and drug charges.

Hilo Criminal Investigations Section detectives continue to investigate Kema and his wife, 45-year-old Jaylin M. Kema, as the result of items found at their Ainaloa subdivision home during the execution of a search warrant on Tuesday, but the two are no longer being held in custody on those offenses.

Jaylin Kema was charged with second-degree theft Thursday in connection with a welfare fraud investigation and made her initial court appearance Friday on that charge.

The Kemas are the parents of Peter Kema Jr., aka “Peter Boy,” a 6-year-old boy who went missing in 1997 and whom police and prosecutors believe was murdered. No charges have been filed in connection with the boy’s disappearance.