A 30-year-old man has been charged in the slaying of a 71-year-old Eden Roc resident.
After conferring with county prosecutors, detectives on Thursday charged Malcolm Keith Utecht with second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, fourth-degree sexual assault and indecent exposure.
The victim has been identified as Solomon A.K.K.M. Matthews, police said Thursday.
Utecht’s charges stem from an incident on Tuesday evening shortly after 7 p.m., when Puna patrol officers responded to several calls on Palainui Avenue in the Eden Roc subdivision.
Initial reports were of a naked male in the area, and later that he was reportedly blocking traffic.
When officers arrived on the scene they were directed to a residence that the male individual, later identified as Utecht, had been seen walking toward. Officers located Utecht, who was standing over the Matthews.
Matthews was lifeless and appeared to have been stabbed.
An autopsy was performed Thursday morning and determined that Matthews died as a result of a stab wound to the neck, and the manner of death was a homicide, police said.
The Tribune-Herald reported Thursday that the suspected weapon was a cane, and that Utecht is a former Army sergeant from Northern California.
Utecht is being held in lieu of $553,000 bail,pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Friday in Hilo District Court.
Police ask anyone who may have information about this incident to call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Frank Mohica of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2375 or Frank.Mohica@hawaiicounty.gov.