The mother of “Peter Boy” Kema is free on supervised release.
Jaylin Kema was allowed to leave Hawaii Community Correctional Center on Thursday morning after her return from a court hearing, said state Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Toni Schwartz.
Kema, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter Dec. 1 for her role in the 1997 death of her 6-year-old son, Peter Kema Jr., will be sentenced June 30 to 10 years probation and has served the year in jail required by her plea agreement.
Deputy Prosecutor Ricky Roy Damerville asked acting Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto to add drug assessment and follow-up treatment, if necessary, to the standard terms of release.
“I’m just concerned she may have had a problem with prescription drugs before going to jail, and assessment and treatment, if necessary, would alleviate that problem,” Damerville said.
Brian De Lima, Kema’s court-appointed attorney, had no objection.
“If there’s need for an assessment, she’ll do whatever is requested of her,” De Lima said.
Damerville also asked the judge that Kema have no contact with her three surviving children, Lina Acol, Allan Acol and Chauntelle Acol for the time being.
“We’re hopeful that it’s going to change, it’s just that this week’s been kind of rough on them,” Damerville said.
“We have no objection,” De Lima said.
The judge granted both prosecution requests.
Peter Boy, who went missing in 1997, hasn’t been found, but authorities now know where his father says he left his body. That development was spurred by Jaylin Kema accepting a deal to plead guilty to manslaughter, agreeing in court to facts Damerville laid out about abuse suffered by the boy, her failure to get him medical treatment and his eventual death.
When she pleaded guilty, she agreed to waive her marital privilege and testify against her husband, Peter Kema Sr. But instead of going to trial, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this month in a deal with prosecutors requiring him to reveal where Peter Boy’s remains are in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence.
Jaylin Kema plans to return to the Puna home where she lived when she was arrested for welfare fraud, De Lima said. The Kemas were separated at the time, he added.
Peter Kema Sr. long ago told authorities that he took his son from the Big Island to Oahu and gave him to someone named “Aunty Rose Makuakane” in an informal adoption. Police couldn’t find the woman or airline records that indicated he had flown there.
If Peter Boy’s remains aren’t recovered, Peter Kema must pass a polygraph test.
County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said it seems Kema is being truthful about the location.
“However, they lied for 20 years, so I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
