HI - Dana Ireland, 25, raped and murdered, Hilo, 24 Dec 1991, real killer identified through DNA testing, commits suicide at home - July 2024

[ifindedout]

Hawaii Island police name suspect in brutal 1991 attack on Dana Ireland

The suspect killed himself after providing DNA evidence to authorities.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Using DNA technology, authorities have identified a Hawaii Island resident as the man who brutally attacked and killed Dana Ireland on Christmas Eve in 1991.

The shocking revelation offers hope of closure in a mystery that gripped Hawaii for decades.

The man’s name is not yet being released, but authorities say he was a resident of Hawaiian Paradise Park. The 57-year old would have been 25 at the time of the crime.

Last week, after law enforcement secured a search warrant for a cheek swab, the man killed himself. He lived within two miles of the fishing trail where Ireland was found, brutally beaten.

[...]

The Hawaii Innocence Project, working with law enforcement, sent the DNA samples to the California lab Indago Solutions. Steve Kramer, of Indago Solutions, is credited with identifying the man known as the Golden State Killer — who committed more than a dozen murders.

[...]

Through that extensive research, Kramer identified one potential suspect in February and gave the results to the FBI.

An FBI agent and Hawaii County police officers subsequently started surveillance on the man and last month, were able to get a fork that the man used and publicly discarded.

That fork was also sent to the lab for more testing and a match was reported in July.

More backstory on Dana's case here: True Crime and Justice Web site. This link was mentioned in a different thread many years ago (ETA: no previous thread found for Dana):

Found Deceased - OH - Sierah Joughin, 20, Fulton County, 19 July 2016 #3 *Arrest*

I'm sure it will be weeks or months before additional info is released. This is bigger than anyone ever imagined. It could take that long to finish searching his property. She was reported missing and within a few short hours FBI was involved. They knew from the beginning. With whatever they...

www.websleuths.com

Mods please move thread if necessary.

 

[vls12345]

It looks like the Hawaii Now article has been updated to include the name of the suspect & some other details.

The suspect was identified Monday as 57-year-old Albert Lauro, Jr.

Authorities also confirmed he killed himself before he could be arrested.

Three men were arrested and charged for the murder of Ireland in 1999. Albert Ian Schweitzer spent 23 years in prison before his conviction was vacated in January 2023. In October 2023, his brother Shawn Schweitzer had his conviction vacated.

Frank Pauline died in prison while serving time for the Ireland murder.

The Hawaii and New York Innocence Projects represented the Schweitzer brothers.

Lawson said the man responsible for the crime “took the easy way out” after attacking Ireland and allowing others to go to prison instead.

A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the new developments in the case.

Hawaii Island police name suspect in brutal 1991 attack on Dana Ireland

The suspect killed himself after providing DNA evidence to authorities.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

 

[IQuestion]

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Using DNA technology, authorities have identified a Hawaii Island resident as the man who brutally attacked and killed Dana Ireland on Christmas Eve in 1991.

The shocking revelation offers hope of closure in a mystery that gripped Hawaii for decades.

The man’s name is not yet being released, but authorities say he was a resident of Hawaiian Paradise Park. The 57-year old would have been 25 at the time of the crime.

Last week, after law enforcement secured a search warrant for a cheek swab, the man killed himself. He lived within two miles of the fishing trail where Ireland was found, brutally beaten.

[...]

The Hawaii Innocence Project, working with law enforcement, sent the DNA samples to the California lab Indago Solutions. Steve Kramer, of Indago Solutions, is credited with identifying the man known as the Golden State Killer — who committed more than a dozen murders.

[...]

Through that extensive research, Kramer identified one potential suspect in February and gave the results to the FBI.

An FBI agent and Hawaii County police officers subsequently started surveillance on the man and last month, were able to get a fork that the man used and publicly discarded.

That fork was also sent to the lab for more testing and a match was reported in July.

More backstory on Dana's case here: True Crime and Justice Web site. This link was mentioned in a different thread many years ago (ETA: no previous thread found for Dana):

Mods please move thread if necessary.

A traedy of epic proporions:
Three men were arrested and charged for the murder of Ireland in 1999. Albert Ian Schweitzer spent 23 years in prison before his conviction was vacated in January 2023. In October 2023, his brother Shawn Schweitzer had his conviction vacated.
Frank Pauline died in prison while serving time for the Ireland murder.
The real suspect identified after 23 years!!!...name & photo in this article

Hawaii Island police name suspect in brutal 1991 attack on Dana Ireland

The suspect killed himself after providing DNA evidence to authorities.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

 

[Seattle1]

For refresher, this case was featured on American Justice in 2004. (It's currently streaming on Prime).

"American Justice" Murder in Paradise (TV Episode 2004) | Documentary, Crime, History

44m | TV-PG

www.imdb.com

 

[Seattle1]

Jul 29, 2024
Dana Ireland's death has been under investigation for the past three decades. And there are still a lot of questions to be answered. But how did we get here in the first place?

 

[Seattle1]

Jul 29, 2024
HILO - Police held an online news conference from Hilo on Monday, July 29, More info at https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/20...

 

[Seattle1]

7-29-24 Police Identify Suspect in Dana Ireland Murder Investigation

www.hawaiipolice.com

 

[Seattle1]

Dana Ireland (undated) and Albert Lauro, JR (2017) DL


A mugshot of Lauro when he was arrested on a shoplifting charge in 1987. Lauro had no other criminal record. (Hawaii Police Department)

Big Island Police Didn't Have Probable Cause To Arrest Suspect For Dana Ireland's Murder, Chief Says

The suspect, Albert Lauro Jr., committed suicide after he was determined to be the source of semen and other DNA found on Ireland's body and around the crime scene in 1991.

www.civilbeat.org

 

[Seattle1]

Hawaii man linked by DNA on fork to Virginia woman's brutal 1991 killing is found dead before he's arrested 7/30/24

 

[Seattle1]

7/29/24

Dana Ireland murder investigation timeline

Dana Ireland's death has been under investigation for the past three decades. And there are still a lot of questions to be answered. But how did we get here in

www.kitv.com

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1818708698895630825

 

[scapa]

I remember this one -- glad it's been solved -- finally -- but what a travesty and trail of wreckage in its wake. Surely a judge would have granted an arrest warrant given the DNA, or they might have waited to build the evidence as we've seen them do in other historical DNA-based crimes?

 

[Seattle1]

I remember this one -- glad it's been solved -- finally -- but what a travesty and trail of wreckage in its wake. Surely a judge would have granted an arrest warrant given the DNA, or they might have waited to build the evidence as we've seen them do in other historical DNA-based crimes?

I can see the predicament LE found themselves in.

First, LE already had a history of injustice on this case (defense teams watching them closely). Second, LE could only hold the suspect for 48 hours without charging him. Third, charging the defendant starts the judicial clock. And while they had DNA linking him to sexual assault, prosecution for a class A felony must be commenced within six years after it is committed. (Rape statutes have changed in most States but not applicable to cases dating back to 1991).

It was only weeks ago that they confirmed Lauro's DNA, and by all accounts, at this time, authorities did not have sufficient evidence to charge him with murder. IMO, even if they brought him in for 48 hours and had to release him -- I think the outcome would have been the same. This dude knew his number was up and was dead in 3 days after talking to police. JMO

untitled

ETA: Actually, I think it was DNA from the bloody t-shirt that matched Lauro making it even more difficult.

 

[LadyL]

oh he's been pretending to be a regular person all these years

his FB:

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