Medical Examiner identifies Makapuu victims
One of the people who died at the Makapuu tidal pools was identified as Stephanie Casados, 11. She and her father, 51-year-old Charles Casados, apparently went on an outing Wednesday afternoon to the tide pools. Their bodies were recovered Thursday night.
The Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the bodies of the two people found dead at Makapuu Lighthouse as Charles and Stephanie Casados.
Charles Casados, a local real estate entrepreneur, is 51 and Stephanie is 11. Police said last night they believe the two are father and daughter.
The bodies were found near the Makapuu tide pools yesterday afternoon. An autopsy will be conducted today to determine how they died.
Both had injuries that could have come from washing up onto rocks, an Emergency Medical Services spokesman said.
Charles Casados on his website YokoHawaii, describes himself as an owner of many Waikiki condominium vacation rentals who has been renting properties in Waikiki for more than 15 years and has lived in Hawaii for 28 years.
Casados said he is also a court appointed foreclosure commissioner for the state of Hawaii and the owner of Chi Rock Creations LLC. which specializes in marble sculptures.
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The website says Stephanie loves ballet, fishing, tennis and golf.
Casados also has two other children, a teenage son and daughter, according to the website.
Stephanie Casados attended Jefferson Elementary School and them moved on to Kaimuki Middle School in August where she began the sixth grade.
Frank Fernandes, Kaimuki’s principal, said her teachers said Stephanie had a very good academic record.
"Her teachers described her as very cooperative, friendly and a wonderful individual," Fernandes said.
The Kaimuki principal said he waiting for direction from her family to determine an appropriate way for the school to remember her.
Fernandes said counselors as well as well Department of Education psychologist are available to any of the girl’s classmates.
"There are also counseling services available to her family," he added.
Hikers spotted the bodies in the water and phoned for help at about 3:45 p.m. yesterday, police said.
One witness hiked a trail down to the tide pools below the lighthouse and found the girl on the rocks before emergency responders arrived, police said.
Both were clad in swim tops called rash guards and shoes known as reef walkers, while the man had on a pair of goggles. There were no suspicious injuries, police said.
At about the same time, the two were reported missing by a woman, apparently the girl’s mother, who had not been able to reach them by phone for a day.
Late last night, police towed away a Nissan Xterra SUV, apparently owned by Casados, from the parking lot of the Makapuu trail.
