Waimea Murder Investigation Forwarded to Prosecutor’s Office for Review

Hawai‘i Island police have forwarded a January 2026 murder investigation in Waimea to the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for review.

On the evening of Jan. 3, 2026, South Kohala patrol officers responded to the 61-4100 block of Kalooloo Drive following a report of a traffic collision. Upon arrival, officers located 40-year-old Leah Bannister of Puna unresponsive. She was transported to the Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital for treatment where she succumbed to her injuries on Jan. 4.

The investigation was initially classified as an assault investigation but was subsequently reclassified as a second-degree murder investigation following Bannister’s death. The department’s initial news release regarding the incident is available on the Hawaiʻi Police Department website here: https://www.hawaiipolice.gov/kawaihae-assault-investigation-reclassified-as-homicide-following-victims-death/

Detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigation Section conducted numerous witness interviews and extensive follow-up throughout the investigation. As a result of their investigation, three adult suspects and two juvenile suspects have been identified.

The completed investigation has been forwarded to the Hawaiʻi County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for review and charging consideration. Police ask anyone with information related to this investigation to contact Detective Bradley Llanes of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646, ext. 268, or via email at Bradley.Llanes@hawaiipolice.gov.