Police ID body found on remote Volcano trail

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Hawaii Island police Thursday morning identified the body discovered Saturday by hunters on a remote trail in the Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve in Volcano.

The body was identified by the Hawaii Police Department as that of 27-year-old Kaleo Malama Aaron Cachero of Puna. Cachero’s family reported him missing on Dec. 3; however, he had not been seen by them since mid-September.

Police said they responded to a report made by a pair of hunters around 5 p.m. Saturday that they had discovered a badly decomposed body on a trail several miles in from Captains Drive in Fern Forest.

An autopsy was performed on Tuesday, and according to the forensic pathologist, there were no signs of foul play. The full autopsy report is pending toxicology results.

Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation, which is classified as a coroner’s inquest.

Anyone who may have seen Cachero in late November or early December should call the department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311, or contact Detective Wendall Carter of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section by calling (808) 961-2383 or via email wendall.carter@hawaiicounty.gov.