WAILUKU — A Kahului man charged with murder in the death of his mother is accused of stabbing and bludgeoning her, prosecutors said.
Keoni Vinuya Tomas, 25, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Kimberly Vinuya, 43.
Police said a report of someone screaming Monday led officers to Vinuya, who had stab wounds and was lying on the floor inside what police described as a shack where she lived with her son.
Tomas allegedly stabbed his mother “numerous times” and hit her with a club, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Carson Tani said.
Tomas is involved in an investigation into the January death of his aunt, Gail Otsuka, 61. Tomas was released without being charged, pending an investigation, the Maui News reported. Police were waiting for results of DNA analysis of evidence in the case.
The county public defender’s office withdrew representation of Tomas because the mother was a client of the office. The court will appoint a private attorney to represent him.
Tomas couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday at Maui Community Correctional Center where he was being held on $1 million bail.
Stacey Moniz, executive director of Women Helping Women, said she trusts police and the prosecutor’s office acted appropriately in letting Tomas go after he was arrested in Otsuka’s death.
“It’s so easy to second-guess after the fact,” she said.
Moniz said the nonprofit organization plans to hold a candlelight vigil for the women.
She said she’s seen an increase in restraining orders obtained by parents against their adult children. “It’s definitely a growing problem in our community,” she said.