Patricia Wong has been found guilty in the shooting death of Kaycee Smith, 14 years and five months to the day after Smith’s body was found in her rented Orchidland home.
A jury of eight men and four women returned guilty verdicts late this afternoon after a full day of deliberation, finding the 61-year-old Wong guilty of second-degree murder, two counts of solicitation of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and criminal conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.
Wong faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole when she is sentenced Feb. 27, 2024, by Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto.
Wong had been free on $250,000 bail since being indicted for the murder of the 21-year-old rodeo champion, who died of a single gunshot wound to the head on June 30, 2009.
Immediately after the guilty verdict, Deputy Prosecutor Annaliese Wolf presented a written motion to Nakamoto requesting that bail be revoked for Wong — who was tracked down and arrested by investigators in Las Vegas after being indicted — and that she be held without bail pending her sentencing hearing.
Aaron Wills, Wong’s defense attorney, objected, noting that Wong had appeared at all of her court dates since her arrest.
Nakamoto said he didn’t think he had the authority to hold Wong without bail, but set bail at $5 million and ordered state sheriff’s deputies to take her into custody.
“It’s very satisfying that the system has presented some form of justice for Kaycee Smith and her family,” Wolf said afterwards. “I’m grateful to the Hawaii Police Department, that worked very hard to see this case through over the course of 14 years. It was not an easy case or an easy task. And I am also grateful to the jurors who rendered their verdict.”
Smith’s mother, Emma Chong, and her sister, Shelly Smith, were in the courtroom when the verdict was read, as was Natalie Kahunahana, a paternal aunt who spoke for the family.
“We’re happy because we got the verdict that we wanted, for Kaycee, and Shelly and Emma,” said Kahunahana. “But it’s sad. It’s really sad because we know her. She’s like family, Patricia Wong. It’s really sad that she could do that.
“You still feel, in some kind of way, for her.”
Also present in the gallery was Mayor Mitch Roth, who was county prosecutor when Wong was indicted for Smith’s murder.
“I’m very satisfied that justice is finally being served after 14 years,” Roth said. “When this came in, it was a cold case. And I’m really proud of our team that took this case to trial and to the witnesses and the jurors.”
Turning toward police Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins, who was a detective investigating the case when Smith was killed, Roth said, “This guy told us (in 2016) we really need to prosecute this case. And Detective (Derek) Morimoto went back and found other witnesses and evidence.
“These guys really deserve a lot of credit.”
Amon-Wilkins said he was “super happy” for Smith’s family.
“It’s been 14 1/2 years. It’s been a long time,” he said. “I want to thank Annaliese Wolf and Matthew Woodward, the prosecutors. Different prosecutors have looked at this case, and to get to this point is really fantastic, especially for the family.
“I don’t think they can ever get full closure, but this is the door to another chapter closed for them.”
During the trial, Wolf and Woodward said the state didn’t have to prove a motive, but laid out a case that Wong, who called Smith a “hanai daughter,” killed her for her money.
Smith had inherited at least $250,000 in life insurance money after the 2007 death of her father, Noel “Bear” Smith. Smith and Wong had opened a joint credit union account, with Smith initially contributing $91,000 and Wong $3,500, according to prosecutors.
That account — which had about $35,000 when Smith was killed — had a right of survivorship clause, which means if one of the joint owners dies, the other is the beneficiary of all the money.
Two defense witnesses, Frank Costa, a former boyfriend of Smith, and Peter Fuerte, a childhood friend of Wong, both said Wong offered them money to kill Smith. Fuerte, who was also indicted as an accomplice, pleaded guilty to obtaining a gun for Wong — not the firearm police said was the murder weapon.
Fuerte pleaded guilty in August to being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying or using a firearm in the commission of a separate felony and first-degree hindering prosecution.
As part of his plea deal Fuerte testified against Wong. He faces a possible 10 years when he is sentenced on Feb. 9.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.