Sept. 15, 2023
rbbm
www.hawaiinewsnow.com
''HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - It’s been 43 years since a high-profile double murder in east Honolulu.
Rodney “Rocky” Padilla and Lawrence “Larry” Martens were murdered at Maunalua Bay Beach Park in September 1980.
New evidence and a new lead investigative agency is giving hope to the Padilla family.
“My mom is 88 years old,” said Joe Padilla, Rocky’s older brother.
A spokesman for NCIS provided Hawaii News Now with a statement that said:
“Based on evidence that HPD recovered, which included writing in the sand nearby in Maunalua Beach Park, NCIS believes that a social gathering may have taken place that may have led to a potential altercation involving the victims. NCIS believes that witnesses may have been present at the time of their deaths.”
That’s more details than Padilla has been able to get in decades.
He does feel that NCIS is devoting resources to his brother’s case and hopes it’s enough.''
2016
www.khon2.com
In 1980, two Marines murdered in an East Oahu parking lot.
''Thirty-six years later, authorities are stepping up their efforts to find whoever was responsible.
Rodney Padilla, 21, and Lawrence Martens, 19, both lance corporals assigned to the Marine Corps Air Station were found dead at Maunalua Bay Beach Park.
Now the cold case is getting renewed attention thanks to new technology, a family member’s cry for help, and new information.
We spoke to the brother of one of the victims, who came to Hawaii for the first time to plead for information about the case.
Authorities are also boosting the reward to $16,000 in hopes of cracking the case.
“When I received the call that this case is being reopened, I was shocked and overjoyed. This was an answer to my prayers,” said Padilla’s older brother, Joe Padilla.
Joe Padilla describes his little brother, who he called Rocky, as a star athlete in high school, always laughing and joking.
Rocky’s life was cut short at 21 when he was shot and killed. Joe Padilla said Rocky wanted to follow in his footsteps when he got out of the Marines and become a police officer.
“He didn’t deserve it. Nobody had the right to take his life. That was 36 years ago, which is a lifetime,” said Joe Padilla.
Rocky was killed just a few weeks after he returned from his deployment in Afghanistan. Now, investigators are using fresh eyes.''
rbbm
New leads, investigators in cold case double murder offer loved ones new hope
Rodney “Rocky” Padilla and Lawrence “Larry” Martens were murdered at Maunalua Bay Beach Park in September 1980.
Rodney “Rocky” Padilla and Lawrence “Larry” Martens were murdered at Maunalua Bay Beach Park in September 1980.
New evidence and a new lead investigative agency is giving hope to the Padilla family.
“My mom is 88 years old,” said Joe Padilla, Rocky’s older brother.
A spokesman for NCIS provided Hawaii News Now with a statement that said:
“Based on evidence that HPD recovered, which included writing in the sand nearby in Maunalua Beach Park, NCIS believes that a social gathering may have taken place that may have led to a potential altercation involving the victims. NCIS believes that witnesses may have been present at the time of their deaths.”
That’s more details than Padilla has been able to get in decades.
He does feel that NCIS is devoting resources to his brother’s case and hopes it’s enough.''
2016
Marines’ cold case murders revisited as authorities renew call for help
The cold case is getting renewed attention thanks to new technology, a family member’s cry for help, and new information.
www.khon2.com
''Thirty-six years later, authorities are stepping up their efforts to find whoever was responsible.
Rodney Padilla, 21, and Lawrence Martens, 19, both lance corporals assigned to the Marine Corps Air Station were found dead at Maunalua Bay Beach Park.
Now the cold case is getting renewed attention thanks to new technology, a family member’s cry for help, and new information.
We spoke to the brother of one of the victims, who came to Hawaii for the first time to plead for information about the case.
Authorities are also boosting the reward to $16,000 in hopes of cracking the case.
“When I received the call that this case is being reopened, I was shocked and overjoyed. This was an answer to my prayers,” said Padilla’s older brother, Joe Padilla.
Joe Padilla describes his little brother, who he called Rocky, as a star athlete in high school, always laughing and joking.
Rocky’s life was cut short at 21 when he was shot and killed. Joe Padilla said Rocky wanted to follow in his footsteps when he got out of the Marines and become a police officer.
“He didn’t deserve it. Nobody had the right to take his life. That was 36 years ago, which is a lifetime,” said Joe Padilla.
Rocky was killed just a few weeks after he returned from his deployment in Afghanistan. Now, investigators are using fresh eyes.''
