Police have charged a 55-year-old Puna man for the beating death of artist Shingo Honda.
Police have charged a 55-year-old Puna man for the beating death of artist Shingo Honda.
After consulting with prosecutors, Hilo Criminal Investigation detectives charged Michael Cecil Lee at 8:30 p.m. Saturday with second-degree murder.
Honda’s wife, author Lynne Farr called police at about 7:18 p.m. Wednesday to report her 75-year-old husband missing from their home in the Orchid Isle Estates subdivision in upper Puna.
After a brief search, officers found Honda’s body several hundred yards away from the home.
An autopsy performed Friday morning determined Honda died as a result of multiple injuries caused by blunt-force trauma.
Police issued a wanted bulletin for Lee Friday night. On Saturday morning, special duty officers working the Pahoa Christmas Parade saw Lee walking along Pahoa Village Road during the parade. After a brief foot pursuit, Lee was apprehended by officers and taken to the Hilo police cellblock and booked into custody.
Lee is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail pending his initial court appearance scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday in Hilo District Court.
Anyone with information about this incident or who might have come into contact with Lee since Wednesday is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
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