Full Notification

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigation Section – Area I
Lieutenant Rio Amon-Wilkins
Phone: (808) 961-2252
Report no.: 20-013282

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island Police are continuing their investigation after a body was discovered Friday evening (February 14) at a homeless encampment on the edge of the Wailuku Riverbank in Hilo.

The victim has been positively identified as 28-year-old Isaac Wessel-Rivera of Hilo.  

Responding to a call just before 9:00 p.m. Friday evening, South Hilo Patrol officers discovered the deceased body within the encampment.

A male subject was taken into custody for questioning. He is identified as 32-year-old Westen Tegman of Hilo. Upon further investigation and conferring with Hawaiʻi County Prosecutors, Tegman has been released from police custody.

Police detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation.

An autopsy will be performed early next week to determine the exact cause of death.

The previous release for this incident erroneously asked for anyone who may have been in the area of the “Wainaku Scenic Lookout last Sunday evening” to call police. It should have read “in the area of the Wailuku River and Wainaku Street last night (February 14)”.  

Police ask anyone who may have  been in the area on Friday evening to please contact Detective Blaine Morishita at (808) 961-2385 or email [email protected] or Lieutenant Rio Amon-Wilkins at (808) 961-2252 or email [email protected] or the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.