Police say an autopsy is scheduled for this morning on the body of a 58-year-old woman fatally stabbed in a domestic-related incident Friday afternoon in Puna.
The suspect in the stabbing, 52-year-old Christopher Roy Howlind, remains hospitalized in intensive care at Hilo Medical Center, having apparently ingested some sort of chemical liquid prior to police arriving at the crime scene.
Due to his condition, Howlind has not yet been charged, police said.
Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins, commander of East Hawaii Criminal Investigations Division, told the Tribune-Herald on Monday that “it’s still up in the air at this point” what Howlind’s condition will be when and if he does recover.
“We’ll be monitoring that closely,” Amon-Wilkins said.
Howlind was arrested by Puna patrol officers who responded shortly after 2:30 p.m. Friday to a disturbance at 38th Avenue home in Orchidland Estates subdivision.
Police say Howlind had visible injuries to his hands and bloodied clothes, with a large sword covered in blood next to him.
The lifeless body of the victim was discovered while police were awaiting an ambulance for Howlind.
Howlind lived on the Orchidland property with the slain woman and her 37-year-old son who, according to Amon-Wilkins, wasn’t present when the stabbing occurred.
Amon-Wilkins said Howlind has been in Hawaii for “a long time, years.”
Court records indicate no criminal or traffic records for Howlind in Hawaii. Online sources indicate he previously lived in both Sacramento, Calif., and Costa Mesa, Calif.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to continue the investigation, which remains classified as a second-degree murder.
Amon-Wilkins said the victim’s name will be released following the autopsy and positive identification.
Anyone who may have information related to this incident is asked to call the police department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311, or to contact Detective Clarence Davies at (808) 961-2382 or Clarence.Davies@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
