A 61-year-old Keaau has been arrested in connection with the death of an elderly female at a residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
The suspect has been identified as Robert Dean Merrill, according to police.
Shortly before 9 a.m. Friday, Puna patrol officers responded to a residence on 15th Avenue.
Officers contacted Merrill outside of the residence, and they were directed to a bedroom inside, where they discovered the unresponsive victim with severe injuries to her head and facial area, police said.
At 9:45 a.m. Merrill was arrested at the scene and transported to the Hilo jail.
Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are investigating, and the case has been classified as second-degree murder.
The victim was transported to Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 12:39 p.m.
An autopsy was performed Friday afternoon, and the pathologist concluded that the victim died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, face and neck.
The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The identity of the victim is being withheld pending identification and notification of next of kin.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call Detective Wendall Carter of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2383 or WendallCarter@hawaiicounty.gov or the Hawaiʻi
Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311.