Hawai’i Island police are investigating the discovery of a body found in the Ka‘ū district on Wednesday, July 27.

Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section were alerted of a partially buried body on a remote side of the road off of Highway 11, south of Volcanoes National Park.

The badly decomposed body was transported to Hilo Medical Center for official pronouncement of death.  Results of an autopsy performed on Friday July 29 are still pending.  The victim’s identity is still unknown.

Detectives are currently reviewing active missing person cases. Attempts to positively identify the victim will likely be done by means of DNA comparison.

Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378 or email Jeremy.Kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov.