Hawaii County police said they are seeking an Alaska man for questioning in the strangulation death of a 25-year-old woman who had recently moved to Hawaii island from California.
The body of Brittany-Jane Royal was found Tuesday in waters off Kalapana.
Hawaii County police Friday said they were seeking Boaz D. Johnson of Petersburg, Alaska, for questioning in connection with Royal’s death. Johnson, 22, last spoke to his family at noon Monday and has been reported missing.
Johnson was Royal’s boyfriend, a relative of Royal told KITV. They met after Royal moved to Hawaii island in January, the relative said.
Johnson and Royal had reportedly been camping together before her death, police said. Police have opened a murder investigation.
Royal recently moved to Kalapana, police said. Police said her previous known address was in Tustin, Calif.
Royal was young, beautiful and bubbly, friend Robert Sells said. "She was always really friendly."
Sells, who lives in the Virgin Islands, said he met Royal and three of her friends there. He recalled how Royal showed him the tidal pools in St. Thomas. Sells said he was amazed because he has lived in the islands for 30 years and only discovered the pools through Royal, who was there for about four to five months.
"She loved the water," he said.
Sells caught up with Royal in California last year while he was visiting his sons. She was living with her aunt at the time and taking courses to become a yoga instructor.
"I’m sorry to hear what had happened to her," Sells said. "She will be totally missed."
At about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, police and the Fire Department responded to a report of a body caught in fishing line from a nearby boat in the ocean off one of the lava-viewing areas, police said.
Autopsy results determined Royal was strangled.
Johnson is described as 5 feet 6 inches or 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with short brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or ralmeida@co.hawaii.hi.us, or Detective Fetuutuunai Amuimuia at 961-2278 or famuimuia@co.hawaii.hi.us.
