Police: Ka‘u body has ‘suspicious’ injuries

Police are seeking information about the death of a 42-year-old Ka‘u man whose body was found Tuesday evening in his home.

According to police, preliminary results of an autopsy performed Thursday morning on Zachariah Sugrue of Ocean View failed to identify an exact cause of death. The pathologist has deferred her determination as to the cause of death until the toxicology results are received.

Police Lt. Sherry Bird of the Kona Criminal Investigation Section said Thursday Sugrue’s body had “bruising and abrasions” to his legs and chest. Police haven’t ruled out the possibility of foul play.

“The injures that he had, without knowing what was inside, outwardly appeared to be suspicious,” Bird said. While she didn’t describe the bruising and abrasions as extreme, Bird added, “It didn’t look like the kind of bruises someone would get from just falling down.”

Authorities received a 7:37 p.m. call Tuesday reporting an unresponsive man inside a Catamaran Lane home. Fire Department medics determined the man was dead at the scene.

According to Bird, Sugrue lived alone in the house and his body was discovered by “somebody who’d come to check on him, a friend.”

Sugrue’s death is currently classified as a coroner’s inquest and detectives are continuing to investigate.

Police ask anyone who had recent contact with Sugrue or has other pertinent information to contact Detective Pernell Hanoa at 326-4646, ext. 281, or Pernell.Hanoa@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300. Crime Stoppers doesn’t subscribe to caller ID and all information is confidential.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.