Hunters find body wrapped in plastic on remote trail, Hawaii cops say. Two arrested
Two have been arrested after a body was found wrapped in plastic on a remote Hawaii trail, police said.
Hunters found a man’s body, which was later identified as Jonathan Awai, 36, of Makawao, on a Kula trail on July 5, the Maui Police Department said in a July 16 news release.
The investigation into Awai’s death was first called “an unattended death” but later “reclassified as a murder,” police said.
More than a week after Awai’s body was found, John Joseph Smith, 58, and Stacy Marie Smith, 48, were arrested and later charged with second-degree murder in relation to Awai’s death, according to police.
Both remain in custody, police said.
A family member took to Facebook to share their “sadness” over Awai’s death, calling it a “tragedy.”
“You will always remain in our hearts and will be missed dearly,” the family member wrote on Facebook.
Makawao is in northern Maui.
This story was originally published July 17, 2023 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Hunters find body wrapped in plastic on remote trail, Hawaii cops say. Two arrested."
