A man accused of one of the most infamous cold cases in Hawaii history has reportedly committed suicide just shortly after police identified and interviewed him for a 1991 murder.
Albert Lauro Jr., 57, was recently identified in the December 24, 1991 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Dana Ireland, 23, in the Kapoho area of Hawaii. According to police, Ireland died the next day at the Kilo Medical Center.
“For 33 years, our Department has been resolute in investigating the Dana Ireland case,” said Hawai‘i Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz.
Following the Ireland murder, local police departments collected and maintained DNA samples from the victim's body, a sheet used to transport Ireland to the hospital, and from a t-shirt found at the scene.
However, the issue arose when the DNA did not match anyone in the DNA databases.
Officials did send the DNA to the Forensic Analytical Crime Lab in California in 2008 for assistance in solving the crime.
Moreover, as DNA technology advanced, investigators were able to piece together a family tree of the suspect based on known DNA from relatives. By doing this, an FBI field representative earlier this year was able to submit a list of potential suspects for the crime.
From the original list of possible suspects, police ultimately narrowed it down to Lauro.
Police then started to surveil Lauro in an effort to gain more information and in July they were able to retrieve a used utensil to derive more DNA. This DNA was matched to the suspect of the Ireland murder.
Because the statute of limitations has expired on the kidnapping and rape charges, murder was the only aspect of the crime in which Lauro or any other potential suspect could be charged. However, there was not enough evidence to charge Lauro with the murder.
Through a court order, investigators were able to obtain a cheek swab from Lauro to confirm his DNA matched the DNA taken from Ireland.
The DNA was sent to the Forensic Analytical Crime Lab in California to confirm the match.
Investigators also requested Lauro talk with investigators on July 19.
Following the interview, the DNA came back as a match.
While Lauro in the subsequent week committed suicide, the investigation remains ongoing.
“We remain focused on Dana Ireland, a young woman who was brutally murdered. There is still a lot about this case that we do not know and our investigation into this case continues to push forward. Our search for the truth is not over,” Moszkowicz said.