Police ID slain Mountain View man
Hawaii Island police have identified a badly decomposed body discovered on Tuesday afternoon at a residence in Mountain View.
The victim was 47-year-old James Paul Phelps, of Lehua Street in Mountain View.
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Shortly after 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, officers responded to the Lehua Street home after a caller reported going to check on the welfare of an acquaintance and discovered a foul odor coming from within. Responding officers located the decomposing body on the floor of the off-grid residence.
An autopsy performed Friday concluded Phelps died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The case is now classified as second-degree murder. At this time a suspect has not been identified, and the motive behind the killing is under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
