Hawai‘i Island police are renewing their request for information regarding a 2022 Puna murder.
On October 11, 2022, Puna patrol officers responded to a Mountain View residence after a caller reported spelling a foul after going in a home to check on the welfare of an acquaintance.
Responding officers located the decomposing body on the floor of the off-grid residence.
Following an autopsy, the forensic pathologist concluded that the victim, 47-year-old James Paul Phelps of Mountain View, died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives are continuing this investigation, which is classified as second-degree murder. The motive behind the killing remains under investigation.
Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to call Detective Kimo Keli’ipa’akaua, of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2375, or via email at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov
