Police: No foul play in Puna drowning
Police detectives “have conclusively ruled out foul play” in the Feb. 18 death of 29-year-old Kala‘iokealaula Ashley Nicole Reyes Kanekoa of Keaau.
Early that morning, Kanekoa reportedly fell off the sea cliff in Hawaiian Paradise Park and into the ocean. She later drowned. Her body was recovered later in the day.
Detectives interviewed Kanekoa’s boyfriend — who the Tribune-Herald previously identified as Dylan Gapp, 31, of HPP — who reported the incident and was present at the scene, as well as numerous witnesses and residents in the area where this incident occurred, police said Friday.
Police also reviewed residential video surveillance from a nearby home that showed the scene.
“The surveillance video clearly shows no indication of foul play when Kanekoa went over the sea cliff into the ocean,” police said in a statement.
An autopsy was performed Feb. 20, and the forensic pathologist ruled that Kanekoa died as a result of an accidental drowning, with no indication of foul play. However, the final autopsy report is pending standard toxicology testing.
Anyone who may have information relative to this investigation is asked to call Detective Paul Mangus of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2383 or email paul.mangus@hawaiicounty.gov or the police department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.
