Body found off Kalapana ID’d

Body found off Kalapana ID’d

Police identified a homicide victim whose body was found caught up in a fishing line from a boat off the lower Puna shoreline as 25-year-old Brittany-Jane Royal.

An autopsy conducted Wednesday determined that Royal was strangled.

Lt. Greg Esteban of the Criminal Investigations Section said that Royal had recently moved to the Big Island and had been staying in the Kalapana area. Her last known permanent residence was in Tustin, Calif., an Orange County suburb of Los Angeles. Esteban said the family has been notified.

Royal’s body was discovered Tuesday by personnel aboard a fishing vessel off Kalapana. Another vessel in the area contacted authorities and remained with the body until fire and police department personnel arrived on scene.

A second-degree murder investigation has been opened; police have not yet identified a motive for the slaying nor arrested a suspect.

Police ask that anyone who may know the victim or have information on this case contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386or ralmeida@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Fetuutuunai Amuimuia at 961-2278 or famuimuia@co.hawaii.hi.us. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.