HAWAII ISLAND (KHON2) — There are dozens of unsolved murders in Hawaii, however simply because a case goes chilly doesn’t imply the sufferer is forgotten.
Huge Island Detective Derek Morimoto has made it his mission to uncover the reality in unsolved circumstances — a few of them a long time outdated. He is aware of he can’t convey the victims again, however mentioned it’s actually about giving their households and buddies closure.
Investigating chilly circumstances requires persistence, tenacity and grit. Traits Morimoto has in spades.
“It’s been difficult at instances,” Morimoto added. “Rewarding too, I take pleasure in what I do.”
Morimoto has been a detective with the unsolved homicides unit in East Hawaii since 2016. He mentioned there are greater than a dozen unsolved murders in his caseload, however some are particularly troubling.
“I might say the Ebisuzaki case might be the one which bothers me probably the most and I usually take into consideration on a regular basis,” he mentioned.
On Could 1, 1987, 26-year-old Lynn Ebisuzaki was at a buddy’s home in Hilo.
She went outdoors round 9:15 p.m. and by no means returned. Police later discovered her physique outdoors the house within the brush, bleeding from an obvious stab wound.
“As we realized extra about Lynn, she was not a high-risk, per se sufferer,” Morimoto mentioned. “Trying again and pondering that each one these years have passed by and the person who did that to her continues to be strolling round that motivates me to try to discover some solutions.”
In February this year, police released this composite sketch after a brand new tip got here in a couple of man seen arguing with Ebisuzaki at a church earlier than her demise.
Morimoto mentioned suggestions like this assist them push ahead
“To resolve the circumstances and convey closure lastly for these households,” he defined. “I do know individuals could not have been keen to speak then however as time passes by perhaps they’d be keen to speak now. If you understand one thing tell us, the household and the sufferer deserve that.”
Within the final decade, Morimoto and the Hawaii Police Division discovered proof to resolve a number of chilly circumstances…together with the disappearance and homicide of 6-year-old Peter Boy Kema who was reported lacking in 1998 and 26-year-old Vallerie Ann Warshay who was murdered in Kalapana in 1978.
“That was only a excellent instance of persistence and dedication paying off,” Capt. Rio Amon-Wilklins mentioned. “It’s an ideal feeling for the investigators, clearly, to lastly get a case like that resolved after so a few years.”
Amon-Wilkins heads the Hawaii Police Division Prison Investigation Division. He mentioned whereas time creates many challenges for investigators, it does have some advantages.
“There’s additionally sure developments in sure applied sciences with DNA in addition to with digital sort proof additionally might help us with these circumstances,” he defined.
However regardless of how lengthy it takes, he had this message for these nonetheless ready for solutions.
“We’re not giving up on these circumstances,” Amon-Wilkins mentioned.
Anybody with details about what happened to Lynn Ebisuzaki is requested to name Detective Morimoto at 808-961-2380. Those that need to stay nameless can name Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.
