44 year-old Davi Alvarez of Hilo was sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 murder of Noelle Buffet  at the Val Hala Apartment Complex in Hilo.

Police reports indicate that Buffet was stabbed once to the upper front, left side, chest area puncturing the right ventricle of the heart and lacerating the left lung.

On October 19, 2023, Alvarez appeared in Hilo Circuit Court where he entered a “No Contest” plea to the charge of Murder in the Second Degree (intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Noelle Buffett on October 31, 2020). Yesterday, Alvarez appeared in Hilo Circuit Court before being sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

The case was initiated by South Hilo Patrol while the felony investigation was led by Detective John Balberde of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Malate.

In a press release Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said, “This was for Noelle and her ‘ohana. Although we know that it will not fill the immense void of their loss, we hope that this sentencing offers them some sense of closure. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that Hawai‘i County law enforcement is committed to working hard to hold violent offenders accountable to protect our community.”

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney