Big Island Police Determine Boaz Johnson Killed Brittany-Jane Royal – Johnson Found Dead with Confession

The active investigation into the strangulation death of 25-year-old Brittany-Jane Royal has concluded with a determination that she was murdered by her boyfriend, 22-year-old Boaz David Johnson.

Boaz D. Johnson

On December 18, a Grand Jury indicted Johnson for second-degree murder. At that time, a Circuit Court judge issued a warrant for Johnson’s arrest and sealed the indictment—at the request of police and prosecutors—to give state and federal law enforcement agencies the opportunity to locate and arrest Johnson. That indictment has now been unsealed.

Meanwhile, a body found hanging from a tree in Kalapana on January 2 has been identified as Boaz David Johnson. A private forensic laboratory confirmed the identity by comparing DNA from the body with a known sample of Johnson’s DNA. Johnson’s identity was also confirmed using dental records.

A composition book was found near Johnson’s body. In three handwritten pages, the writer—who identified himself as Boaz Johnson—confessed to strangling Royal while involved in a domestic dispute and to throwing her body into the ocean. He also indicated his intention to end his life.

A forensic document examiner determined that the writing in the composition book came from Boaz Johnson.

An autopsy on Johnson’s body revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging and the manner of death was suicide. The medical examiner ruled out foul play.

This investigation began on May 28, 2013, at approximately 6:30 a.m., when police and firefighters responded to a report of a body caught in a fishing line in waters off Kalapana. The body was identified through fingerprints as Brittany-Jane Royal, who had recently moved to Hawaiʻi from Tustin, California, and was living in the Kalapana area with Boaz Johnson, who had recently moved to Hawaiʻi from Petersburg, Alaska.

Investigation revealed that after Royal’s body was found, Johnson said in a telephone conversation with a friend that he and Royal were in good health and were on their way to Hilo. That phone call, in addition to DNA and other evidence found at the crime scene, made Johnson an early suspect in Royal’s murder.

Throughout the investigation, police followed all leads in this case, including investigation that was able to exclude other individuals as being responsible for Royal’s death.

The case is still officially open because detectives have minor follow-ups to conduct before the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney conducts a final review.

Boaz Johnson “Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted” in September

The most recent edition of the Crime Stoppers television program “Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted” highlights a 23-year-old man wanted in a murder investigation, a 40-year-old woman wanted for a domestic incident and a 30-year-old man wanted for a stabbing.

The new episode begins airing Friday (September 6).

Boaz D. Johnson

In it, police ask for help in locating 23-year-old Boaz David Johnson, who is still at large and wanted for the strangulation death of his girlfriend, Brittany-Jane Royal.

Boaz Johnson

Her body was found in the ocean off Kalapana on May 28. Johnson is described as Caucasian, about 5-foot-7, about 150 pounds with a slim build and a fair complexion. He was last seen unshaven and with medium-length brown hair. He has a tattoo of the upper body of a horse near the right side of his abdomen. He is considered dangerous.

The television program also asks for help in locating a 40-year-old Puna woman wanted in connection with a reported burglary and domestic incident in Kurtistown on August 16. Mary Lolita Santos of Mountain View is also wanted on a $5,000 bench warrant for a felony theft case. She is described as 5-foot-2, 147 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Mary Lolita Santos

In this latest edition of “Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted,” Officer Patrick Menino also asks for help in locating a Kona man wanted for a stabbing at White Sands Beach in Kona on May 22, 2012. The assault sent a 39-year-old Mountain View man to the hospital with a stab wound to the neck. Thirty-year-old Tommy Eugan Howard also goes by the names Casino, Tommy Washington and Cesar Waltz. He is described as African-American, 5-foot-7, 145 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes—but he might wear contact lenses that alter his eye color. He has a tattoo of a chain of musical notes that runs from his left shoulder down along his left arm. He may be in Kailua-Kona or Pāpaikou. He is also wanted by the Washington State Department of Corrections for failure to register as a sex offender.

Police ask that anyone with information about any of these men call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. Crime Stoppers does not tape record phone calls or subscribe to caller ID.

“Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted” is a project of Crime Stoppers Hilo, Inc., which is a partnership of the business community, the media and the police. It was inspired by the national TV show, “America’s Most Wanted.” The program airs on Na Leo O Hawaii Community Television Channel 54 on Sundays at 5 p.m. and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. It also airs intermittently on Channel 53.

The Mystery of Bo and Brittany

“In early June, Dateline began following the story of Brittany-Jane Royal, 25.

Brittany’s body was found in the waters off Hawaii’s Big Island on May 28.  Local fishermen and the captain of a tourist boat had to fend off sharks until the police could retrieve her. A tourist photographed one of the sharks….”

More Here:

The Mystery of Bo and Brittany.

Boaz Johnson Now Considered the Suspect in Murder Investigation of Brittany-Jane Royal

Hawaiʻi Island police are asking for the public’s help in locating the 22-year-old former boyfriend of a 25-year-old woman whose body was found in waters off the Kalapana coast on May 28. After the completion of additional follows-ups conducted in this investigation, Boaz David Johnson is now considered the suspect in the murder investigation. He may still be on the island.

New picture released

Johnson is described as Caucasian, about 5-foot-7, about 150 pounds with a slim build and a fair complexion. He was last seen unshaven and with medium-length brown hair. He also has a tattoo of a upper body of a horse near the right side of his abdomen. He is considered dangerous.

On May 28 at about 6:28 a.m., police received a report that a body was caught in a fishing line from a nearby boat. With the assistance of a Hawaiʻi Fire Department helicopter, the body was retrieved from the ocean and taken to a nearby landing zone, where detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section responded and continued the investigation.

The body was identified through fingerprints as Brittany Jane Royal. The medical examiner ruled that she died as the result of strangulation.

Detectives continue to actively pursue leads in this investigation. Police ask that anyone with information on Johnson’s whereabouts contact Detective Robert Almeida at 808-961-2386 or ralmeida@co.hawaii.hi.us, Detective Fetuutuunai Amuimuia at 808-961-2278 or famuimuia@co.hawaii.hi.us, or Lieutenant Gregory Esteban at 808-961-2252 or gesteban@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

 

New Picture Released of Alaska Man Missing and Wanted in Questioning of Death of Woman in Kalapana

Hawaiʻi Island police are renewing their request for information about a 22-year-old Alaska man who was reported missing.

New picture released of Boaz

Boaz D. Johnson of Petersburg, Alaska, last spoke to his family at noon on May 27.

Johnson is also wanted for questioning in connection with the death of 25-year-old Brittany-Jane Royal, whose body was found May 28 in waters off Kalapana. Royal and Johnson had reportedly been camping together before her death, which is being investigated as a murder.

Johnson is described as Caucasian, 5-foot-6 or 5-foot-7, 145 pounds with short brown hair and blue eyes.

Boaz D. Johnson

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts contact Detective Fetuutuunai Amuimuia at 961-2278 or famuimuia@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Related articles

• Missing Man is Suspect in Kalapana Murder of Brittany-Jane Royal (damontucker.com)
• Big Island Police Searching for Alaska Man Last Seen in Puna (damontucker.com)
• Update on Body Found in Ocean Near Lava Flow Entry (damontucker.com)

 

Missing Man is Suspect in Kalapana Murder of Brittany-Jane Royal

Hawaiʻi Island police are renewing their request for information about a 22-year-old Alaska man who was reported missing.

Boaz D. Johnson

Boaz D. Johnson of Petersburg, Alaska, last spoke to his family at noon Monday (May 27).

Johnson is also wanted for questioning in connection with the death of 25-year-old Brittany-Jane Royal, whose body was found Tuesday (May 28) in waters off Kalapana. Royal and Johnson had reportedly been camping together before her death, which is being investigated as a murder.

Brittany-Jane Royal (aka Kaliewe Kulele on her facebook page)

Johnson is described as Caucasian, 5-foot-6 or 5-foot-7, 145 pounds with short brown hair and blue eyes.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts contact Detective Fetuutuunai Amuimuia at 961-2278 or famuimuia@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.