Two men say they were forced at gunpoint by Eric Fontes Jr. to help dispose of the body of Barton Bumatay.
Two men say they were forced at gunpoint by Eric Fontes Jr. to help dispose of the body of Barton Bumatay.
According to court documents filed by police, Christian Alameda told detectives he and Shannon Souza had gone to a 33rd Avenue home in Hawaiian Paradise Park, the site of Bumatay’s home and auto repair shop, shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day.
Alameda said he saw Fontes there, holding a .22-caliber revolver, and Fontes told him he had shot Bumatay in the head. Alameda also told police he saw Bumatay’s body on the kitchen floor of the home, documents state.
Alameda led detectives to two locations on Beach Road off Makuu Drive in HPP where badly decomposed and dismembered human remains were found on Jan. 23.
Fontes, who faces a second-degree murder charge, appeared to be dabbing at tears with a tissue Friday as Hilo Family Court Judge Henry Nakamoto ordered him to appear for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Monday in Hilo District Court.
See Saturday’s edition for more details.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.