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Police release suspect in death of Kalihi woman

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COURTESY CRIMESTOPPERS

Police released Jhun Ley Irorita Wednesday night.

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COURTEY CRIMESTOPPERS

Helen Prestosa

A man police identified as a suspect in the death of a 39-year-old Kalihi woman was released from custody late Wednesday, pending further investigation.

Police acknowledged today that the body of Helen Prestosa, who was battling both breast and bone cancer, has never been found. She was last seen at about 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in Kalihi.

Jhun Ley Irorita, 25, who police described as a suspect in the death of Prestosa, was released from custody late Wednesday.

A CrimeStoppers bulletin was issued on Monday identifying Jhun Ley Irorita as a suspect in Prestosa’s death.

Officers arrested him at 11:04 p.m. Monday at a Waipahu home on suspicion of second-degree murder and resisting arrest after a tip.

Prestosa was initially reported as a missing person on Nov. 20, but police reclassified the case as a second-degree murder after detectives determined that she was a victim of foul play.

A member of Prestosa’s family said she had never heard of Irorita before police named him as the suspect.

Irorita’s criminal record shows convictions for four misdemeanors and two petty misdemeanor crimes. Irorita served two days in prison after his last conviction for fourth-degree theft, a petty misdemeanor, on Dec. 28.

Prestosa was a manager at a Jack in the Box restaurant. Her family, concerned about her health because she needed medication, reported her missing after she failed to show up for work Nov. 19.

15 responses to “Police release suspect in death of Kalihi woman”

  1. islandsun says:

    Deport him, no fly list

  2. TMJ says:

    The guy hits a cop and is released???

  3. localguy says:

    Did he have a solid alibi for where he was at the time of the murder? Police didn’t have accurate information to arrest him? HPD silence speaks volumes.

    Guy should not have assaulted the cops, adding to his list of charges. True definition of a “Recidivist.” Book em Danno.

  4. lowtone123 says:

    Hit a police officer, get released…nice.

  5. Morimoto says:

    This one I don’t get. Why arrest him and then release him? Why not just wait until you have the evidence to charge him before arresting him?

  6. akio says:

    deport the loser

  7. HRS134 says:

    No body, no crime. He’s gonna walk.

  8. aomohoa says:

    This might sound silly but has anyone seen “Making a Murderer?” We don’t really know much about this guy except he did a couple of stupid things and was the manager where she happened to be. Maybe he panicked when he was arrested. Maybe we should just wait until there is more evidence before you are ready to hang him in a public forum. Now if he bolts and they get more real evidence I will be ready to put him in jail forever too, but not yet.

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