Emails reveal Maui Police Department still holds portion of Lahaina fire victim’s remains
The victim’s family asked to remain anonymous, but told HNN Investigates when they buried their loved one, they were under the impression they had been given all of his remains
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - HNN Investigates new revelations about the Maui Police Department’s handling of human remains after the Lahaina fire.
While the department is adamant victims “were treated with the utmost respect, dignity and professionalism,” we’ve obtained emails documenting an apparent mix-up.
The family in this case asked to remain anonymous, but told us when they buried their loved one, they were under the impression they had been given all of his remains.
A string of emails indicates otherwise.
On Sept. 18, 2023, a pathologist contracted by MPD sent an email from a personal Gmail account to an employee with the department’s then-morgue contractor Grey Tech LLC. It stated remains initially thought to belong to one person actually belonged to someone else.
To protect the identity of the families involved, we have redacted all identifying information.
The email read, “The extra bones are not from (female victim’s name).” The pathologist went on to explain, “The bones are genetically linked to (male victim’s name).”
By that time, records indicate MPD had already relinquished custody of both sets of remains to two different mortuaries.
When asked who approved that, Grey Tech owner Greyson Abarra explained the process saying, “There needs to be approval by law enforcement and the coroner’s physician side.”
The email went on to say the remains of the male victim who the bones actually belonged to had been dropped off at a mortuary nearly three weeks prior to the discovery of the additional remains.
When the morgue employee asked if she should explain the situation to the mortuary, the pathologist replied “use your discretion.”
In a email sent later that morning, the morgue employee provided the pathologist with this update: “The remains of (male victim’s name) are still at the mortuary.”
With funeral services scheduled, it appeared there was a rush to reunite the newly discovered remains with the remains that had already been released to the funeral home.
The morgue employee wrote, “Hopefully we can get it to (mortuary name) in time.”
We asked the Maui Police Department why partial remains of fire victims were released to mortuaries prior to the completion of all DNA testing. The department did not answer our question.
About a week and a half later, that same morgue employee sent an email to mortuary staff.
She wrote, “Earlier today I spoke to (mortuary employee’s name) and told her that remains of (male victim’s name) is cleared for release and can be picked up on Monday. However, it was determined (about an hour ago today) that the remains of (male victim’s name) cannot be released due to the inability to separate out his remains only. Therefore what we have waited for up until this point will remain in custody of Maui Police and will be scattered with other ‘group remains’ at a later date.”
The morgue employee then asked if the victim’s family was under the impression that more remains would be united with the remains that had already been transferred, saying she wanted to make sure the family received an explanation.
She wrote, “I want to ensure that the proper person, namely MPD or a pathologist, provides an explanation to the family as to what was found and why the remains cannot be united with the decedent.”
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The Maui Police Department maintains “no remains were released without absolute certainty of identification” and that families were “informed with care.”
Meanwhile, the family in this case told HNN Investigates they were unaware the department is still in possession of a portion of their loved ones remains.
Camron Hurt heads up the government watchdog group Common Cause Hawaii.
“I’m heartbroken. I’m so heartbroken,” he said. “What’s even more disturbing is families of victims do not know where all the remains of their loved ones are.”
HNN Investigates asked Hurt what questions he had.
“I have so many questions,” he said. “Why weren’t families told?”
He said its of utmost importance that families be told the truth, “On the most basic level. It’s their loved one. It’s the final closure. Whether you’re spiritual or not. Getting the remains of your loved ones — and being able to say goodbye to them is the least anyone can ask for.”
Hurt went on to say, “It really makes you question the kind of leadership we have.”
We asked Chief John Pelletier to sit down with us for an on camera interview to discuss apparent missteps the department made during the recovery, identification and family reunification processes.
Our request was declined.
Other questions MPD wouldn’t answer:
- How many instances is the department aware of, where families did not receive all of their loved ones’ remains because a portion of those remains were mixed with other remains and could not be separated?
- In those cases, were families notified? If so, when? And who was responsible for the notification?
- How many people’s remains are still in the department’s care as part of what MPD refers to as “group remains”?
- Have families of those victims been notified their loved ones are a part of those “group remains”?
- What does the department intend to do with the “group remains?”
Records reveal instead of using experienced recovery teams, MPD leadership ordered officers and officer recruits to collect the remains of fire victims despite not having proper training.
Statements provided by Maui police show the department didn’t always follow county protocols.
HNN Investigates confirmed identification numbers that were supposed to be issued — immediately upon a victim’s discovery — weren’t assigned until they had been moved at least two different times. Department leadership also admits scene photographs and GPS coordinates weren’t obtained in every case. We’ve also confirmed instances where body bags were not used to move decedents from their final resting place.
In a recent email, the department now claims its responses were “misrepresented” or taken “out of context.” Vague accusations the department didn’t back up with specific examples.
In that same email, spokesperson Alana Pico said, “we will no longer comment on this matter.”
Meanwhile, HNN Investigates maintains that information reported in this series of stories is supported by eyewitness accounts, interviews conducted as part of the attorney general’s investigation and the MPD’s own after-action report.
“I want to be very clear. It’s not the fault of officers here. It’s very much the fault of leadership, management from the chief down,” said Camron Hurt.
Hurt says the only way to ensure this never happens again is to address the matter publicly. So we can learn from apparent mistakes.
To this point, the Maui Police Commission has been all but silent on the issue.
Hurt said, “Silence will not save you. We’re listening. We’re paying attention. We’re focused. We want answers.”
The police commission is one of the only agencies that has the authority to call the Maui police chief in and have him answer questions in a public forum.
HNN Investigates has repeatedly asked the commission if that will happen at its next meeting on Nov. 20. We’re waiting for a response.
Meanwhile, Common Cause Hawaii has launched a social media campaign demanding transparency. In an effort to get answers, the watchdog group is encouraging the public to attend next week’s Maui police commission meeting.
It’s scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 10 a.m. at the County of Maui Service Center on Alaihi Street in Kahului.
If you can’t attend in person, you can submit testimony electronically here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and under contact information, you’ll find an email for the Maui Police Commission.
Below is HNN Investigates' media request to MPD:
Below is MPD’s response to HNN Investigates:
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