A suspect in the notorious kidnapping, rape, and murder case of a 23-year-old woman in Hawaii over three decades ago took his own life before he could be apprehended, Hawaiian authorities revealed recently.
The Hawaii Police Department announced on Monday that they had identified 57-year-old Albert Lauro, Jr. as a match to the DNA evidence found on the body of Dana Ireland, who was killed in Hawaii’s Big Island in the Kapoho area on Christmas Eve in 1991.
However, when authorities returned to Lauro’s home after administering a DNA cheek swab, they discovered him dead inside. His residence was located approximately two miles from where Ireland was found severely beaten before succumbing to her injuries the following day, Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz informed reporters during a press conference.
Moszkowicz added that Lauro’s death appeared to be a suicide.
“In the nearly 33 years since Dana Ireland was kidnapped, raped, and killed, the Hawaii police department has remained committed to solving this case and following the evidence wherever it may lead,” Moszkowicz stated.
Initially, three men were convicted of the murder of the young woman, but one passed away while serving his sentence, and the other two were eventually released after being wrongfully convicted — while the true perpetrator remained at large.
Law enforcement closed in on Lauro this year after matching DNA obtained from a discarded fork he had used to eat lunch with DNA recovered from the crime scene.
Several samples of DNA were collected and used to make a positive match. Semen found on the victim’s body and clothing, as well as sweat and skin from a t-shirt, all pointed to one individual previously known only as “Unknown Male #1.”
While the DNA evidence provided probable cause to charge Lauro with rape, the statute of limitations for murder had expired. Authorities stated that they did not have enough evidence to charge Lauro with murder.
“The presence of Lauro’s DNA at the crime scene was not adequate evidence to prove that Lauro intentionally or knowingly caused her death,” Moszkowicz mentioned during the news conference in Hilo.
Lauro took his own life last week after police visited his residence to compare the sample against a swab taken from him in person.
Authorities are now examining Lauro’s cellphone for any additional information that could offer closure to Ireland’s family and friends.
Initially arrested and convicted in 1999 for Ireland’s murder, three men were involved in the case.
However, last year, one of the men, Albert Ian Schweitzer, had his murder conviction overturned after spending 23 years in prison. In October 2023, his brother Shawn Schweitzer, who was also implicated in the crime, had his conviction vacated with the assistance of the Hawaii and New York Innocence Projects.
The third convicted individual, Frank Pauline, passed away in prison while serving time for Ireland’s murder, according to HawaiiNewsNow.
With Lauro’s death, the full truth about what happened to Ireland may never be completely known.
This week, the attorneys representing the Schweitzer brothers accused Hawaii police of intentionally mishandling the investigation into Lauro by failing to take steps to prevent him from fleeing or taking his own life after obtaining his DNA.
“We were aware that he had a family and a good life,” remarked Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck, who is assisting the Hawaii Innocence Project in the Schweitzer case, about Lauro.
“It’s well-known in law enforcement circles that if you have DNA evidence on a suspect and you know they committed the crime, not taking them into custody could result in the person fleeing, destroying evidence, or committing suicide,” he told The Associated Press.
However, Moszkowicz stated that if police had arrested Lauro without probable cause, any evidence gathered afterward would not have been admissible in court. He refuted any claims of sabotage by investigators.
“Our focus remains on Dana Ireland, a young woman who was brutally murdered. There is still much about this case that remains unknown, and our investigation continues to move forward. Our search for the truth is ongoing,” Moszkowicz emphasized.
Ireland, who was visiting from Virginia, was discovered clinging to life on December 24, 1991, in the brush along a fishing trail in Puna, a remote section of the island.
She had been sexually assaulted and beaten, and passed away at Hilo Medical Center the following day. Her damaged bicycle was found several miles away and appeared to have been struck by a vehicle.
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If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you are outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
