LIHUE — A 5th Circuit grand jury returned an indictment of second-degree murder Thursday against a former Alaska resident. Steven M. Wilson, 26, of Kapaa, was indicted for the death of Kendra “Kenny” Elizabeth Lewis, 21, who was also from
LIHUE — A 5th Circuit grand jury returned an indictment of second-degree murder Thursday against a former Alaska resident.
Steven M. Wilson, 26, of Kapaa, was indicted for the death of Kendra “Kenny” Elizabeth Lewis, 21, who was also from Alaska and a part-time resident of Kauai since childhood. She was found stabbed to death in the bedroom of her residence at Kawaihau Sports Villa condominium in Kapaa on April 26.
According to the Kauai Police Department, Wilson and the victim moved to Kaua‘i from Anchorage, Alaska, earlier in the year. The two reportedly lived together with another member of the Lewis family.
Police have not yet released the day and time of death. It is believed that she may have died in the days prior to the discovery of her body in an apartment bedroom.
Wilson had been scheduled for a district court preliminary hearing on May 30, where a judge would determine if probable cause exists to prosecute the case. The state instead presented its case to the grand jury on Thursday, as a method by which a person is charged without inference of guilt.
“Of the several methods available to our office for proceeding with the case, this one made the most sense to us,” said County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar.
The grand jury found that Wilson is also subject to enhanced sentencing for when a murder is “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity.” The finding enables the state prosecutors to seek a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Kollar and First Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Takata said the state was ready to proceed at the May 3 preliminary hearing, and had planned for testimony from police investigators and the county coroner. The lead detective in the investigation is Kauai Police Department Sgt. Bernard Purisima.
The matter was continued to allow court-appointed defense attorney Craig De Costa more time to speak with Wilson and to prepare his cross-examination of witnesses. Wilson made his initial appearance on April 30 and the state Public Defender’s office declared a conflict for previously representing a witness in the case.
De Costa said now the prosecutors presented the case to the grand jury, he would not be able to cross examine the witnesses at a preliminary hearing. The indictment supersedes the complaint, but there are advantages to both, he said, including taking the case to circuit court via a grand jury.
“The grand jury was just held Thursday, and for scheduling purposes, I am not surprised that the state made the decision to go to the grand jury,” he said. “I informed Mr. Wilson that this was a possibility.”
Wilson is being held at Kauai Community Correctional Center. The grand jury warrant has bail set at $1 million.
The District Court complaint will be dismissed and the defendant will be served with a warrant to be booked on the indictment as a new or separate case, De Costa said.
“Wilson will be transported to county cell block and brought to circuit court to be arraigned on the indictment,” De Costa said. “In my estimation that will be Wednesday or Thursday, because of the holiday and the paperwork that needs to be processed,” De Costa said.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes will represent the state in the murder case. She was the prosecutor for the first-degree murder conviction of Vicente Hilario in March.
