Authorities have released the names of the two people involved in last Friday’s murder-suicide in Po`ipu. According to the Associated Press, Ryan Masumoto, 32, fatally stabbed Michelle Ramos, 26, at Keoki’s Paradise restaurant. The victim was employed there as a
Authorities have released the names of the two people involved in last Friday’s murder-suicide in Po`ipu.
According to the Associated Press, Ryan Masumoto, 32, fatally stabbed Michelle Ramos, 26, at Keoki’s Paradise restaurant. The victim was employed there as a waitress.
Masumoto then apparently hung himself at Kaumakani Beach.
According to Kaua`i Police inspector Melvin Morris, the couple had been involved in previous domestic violence complaints.
Relatives of the victim said she had been trying to end a more than four-year relationship with Masumoto when she was killed.
Ramos had worked as a server at Keoki’s Paradise for three months.
Rich Ditmars, manager of the restaurant, said employees were mourning her death.
“Keoki’s employees operate as a tightly knit family, and so the death of this very special lady is a personal tragedy for each of us,” Ditmars said in a prepared statement. “Our main concern now is for her family, and we pray that their fond memories of her will help to ease their grief.” Police were called about the stabbing at 1:55 p.m. Ramos was pronounced dead at Wilcox Memorial Hospital at 3 p.m.
Police were mounting an all-island search for Masumoto when his body was discovered.
Ramos was the sixth person known to have been murdered on Kaua`i in 2000. Two – Lisa Bissell, 38, and Daren Singer, 43 – were victims of an apparent serial killer. The other four, including Ramos, knew their murderer.
Matthew Blankswade, 21, is awaiting trial for allegedly shooting his girlfriend’s father, Jeff Brisbois, 48, in the head while the victim slept last June.
Howard I. Giddens, 27, remains in an Oahu jail awaiting trial for the shooting death of neighbor Colan Fernandes in Hanamaulu in September.
Gregory Aguiar, 50, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder earlier this month in the burning death of his wife Muilan Aguiar, who died at an Oahu hospital three weeks after her husband doused her with fluid and set her afire March 12.
There were no murders on Kaua`i in 1998 or 1999.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and [dwilken@pulitzer.net]
