A 41-year-old Hilo man charged with second-degree murder for the fatal Halloween stabbing of a 39-year-old woman in her Puueo Street apartment has an extensive criminal record dating back to 2002.
According to court records, Davi Franklin Alvarez Sr. has been convicted of 37 criminal charges. Of those convictions, four are for Class C felonies, including two for felony domestic abuse, plus escape and first-degree terroristic threatening.
His misdemeanor convictions include second-degree terroristic threatening and two counts each of misdemeanor domestic abuse and violating a protective order.
The victim was identified by police as Noelle Keala Tamiko Buffett, who lived in the unit at Hilo Val Hala Apartments where the stabbing occurred.
Police earlier said Alvarez and Buffett were acquainted.
“He has a girlfriend, and he and the girlfriend have been staying there, off and on, for several weeks, (and) apparently recently moved out,” said Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins of the Hawaii Police Department’s Hilo Criminal Investigations Section on Monday.
Amon-Wilkins said police recovered a knife, “and we are conducting forensic testing on it to try to determine if that is, in fact, the weapon.”
Amon-Wilkins said no drugs were found at the scene, and that police have not established a motive in the slaying.
Alvarez remains in police custody in lieu of $1 million bail with an initial court date Wednesday.
Alvarez has two active cases in Hilo Circuit Court, one for first-degree terroristic threatening and felony domestic abuse, filed July 7, the other for a misdemeanor refusal to obey the lawful order of a police officer, filed July 9.
Amon-Wilkins confirmed the victim in the terroristic threatening and felony domestic abuse is Alvarez’s current girlfriend.
A bench warrant issued for Alvarez’s arrest on July 13 ordered him to not contact the girlfriend, to not threaten or harm her and to stay at least 100 feet away from her residence and workplace.
Alvarez was incarcerated at Hawaii Community Correctional Center as recently as Sept. 4, the date he posted bond on the domestic abuse and terroristic threatening charges. An order was granted to revoke his bail on those charges.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
