A Maui grand jury has indicted 74-year-old Francisco Labuanan on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 68-year-old Cynthia Moore from Haiku.
Authorities say the details of their relationship are still unclear.
The case began on January 25, when police received a call from Labuanan himself. He told 911 operators that he had found Moore lying on the ground outside their home off Hana Highway and believed she had fallen.
But when investigators arrived, they noticed something that didn’t quite add up. Sources say Moore had injuries on her face, along with bruises on her neck and hands. That raised suspicions, and Labuanan was arrested for murder that same day. However, he was later released while police continued their investigation.
This week, things took a turn. On Wednesday, the Maui Police Department announced that Labuanan had been re-arrested, and formal murder charges were filed against him. Then, on Friday morning, a grand jury officially indicted him. He is now in custody with no bail.
Court records reveal that this is not Labuanan’s first run-in with the law. Back in 1996, he was convicted of abusing a family or household member. He served two days in jail and was placed on probation for a year.
Meanwhile, Moore’s son is speaking out, saying the family wants to raise awareness about domestic violence.
The Maui Police Department has expressed its deepest condolences to Moore’s loved ones and assured the public that the investigation is still ongoing.
Labuanan is expected to make his first court appearance next week.
