Police send Kobayashi murder case to prosecutors

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Police detectives completed their investigation into the discovery of a body more than two years ago in Hilo and sent the case to prosecutors for review.

Police detectives completed their investigation into the discovery of a body more than two years ago in Hilo and sent the case to prosecutors for review.

On Jan. 18, 2013, police discovered a badly decomposed body off the “ATV Trail Park” near Stainback Highway in Hilo. The body was identified through dental records as 38-year-old Shayne Yoshi Kalani Kobayashi of Pahoa.

Kobayashi’s body was found during the search for the body of murder victim Dante Peter Gilman.

Kobayashi, who was reported missing prior to his body being found, was a key witness for the state in the prosecution of Frank Pauline Jr., Albert Ian Schweitzer and Shawn Schweitzer for the rape and murder of Dana Ireland on Christmas Eve 1991.

Kobayashi’s death is classified as a second-degree murder.

Police identified a suspect, but no one has been arrested. Police have not made the suspect’s name public.