HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – HNN is investigating new revelations about how the Maui Police Department handled human remains after the Lahaina fire.

While the department insists that victims were “treated with the utmost respect, dignity and professionalism,” we received emails documenting apparent confusion.

The family in this case requested anonymity but told us that when they buried their loved one, they were under the impression that all their remains were given to them.

A series of emails suggest otherwise.

On Sept. 18, 2023, a pathologist under contract with MPD sent an email from a personal Gmail account to an employee at the department’s then-morgue contractor, Gray Tech LLC. It was stated that the remains, which were initially thought to belong to one person, actually belonged to another person.

We have redacted all identifying information to protect the identities of the families involved.

“The extra bones are not from (female victim’s name),” the email said. it said. The pathologist continued: “The bones are genetically linked to (male victim’s name).”

By then, records show MPD had already relinquished custody of both sets of remains to two different morgues.

When asked who approved it, Gray Tech owner Greyson Abarra explained the process: “There needs to be approval from law enforcement and the medical examiner.”

The email went on to say that the remains of the male victim to whom the bones actually belonged were deposited in a morgue approximately three weeks before the additional remains were found.

When the morgue worker asked if he should explain the situation to the morgue, the pathologist replied, “use your own discretion.”

In an email sent later that morning, the morgue worker informed the pathologist: “The remains of (male victim’s name) are still in the morgue.”

As funerals were planned, there appeared to be a rush to reunite the newly discovered remains with those deposited at the funeral home.

The morgue worker wrote: “Hopefully we can get him (name of morgue) in time.”

We asked the Maui Police Department why some of the fire victims’ remains were deposited in morgues before all DNA testing was completed. The Ministry did not answer our question.

About a week and a half later, the same morgue employee sent an email to the morgue staff.

He wrote: “I spoke to (morgue worker name) earlier today and told him (male victim’s name) remains have been cleared for release and could be picked up on Monday. However, it was determined (about an hour ago today) that (male victim’s name) could not be released solely because his body could not be decomposed. “So what we have been waiting for up to this point will remain in the custody of the Maui Police and will be dispersed with other ‘remnants of the group’ at a later date.”

The morgue worker then asked if the victim’s family was under the impression that more remains would be combined with those previously transferred and said he wanted to make sure the family received an explanation.

“I would like to ensure that the right person, namely MPD or the pathologist, provides an explanation to the family as to what was found and why the remains cannot be combined with the deceased,” he wrote.

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The Maui Police Department maintains that “no remains have been released without positive identification” and that families have been “carefully notified.”

Meanwhile, the family in this case told HNN Investigates they were unaware that some of their loved one’s remains were in the department’s possession.

Camron Hurt heads the government watchdog group Common Cause Hawaii.

“I am heartbroken. “I’m so heartbroken,” he said. “What’s even more disturbing is that the victims’ families don’t know where the remains of their loved ones are.”

HNN Investigations asked Hurt what questions he had.

“I have a lot of questions,” he said. “Why weren’t the families informed?”

He said it was crucial that families were told the truth “at the most basic level.” This is what they love. This is the final closure. Whether you are spiritual or not. “To receive the remains of your loved ones and be able to say goodbye to them is the least anyone could ask for.”

“It really makes you question the leadership style that we have,” Hurt continued.

We asked Chief John Pelletier to sit down with us for an on-camera interview to discuss the department’s apparent missteps in the recovery, identification and family reunification processes.

Our request was rejected.

Other questions MPD cannot answer:

1. How many examples does the Ministry know of where families were unable to receive the remains of their loved ones because some of these remains were mixed with other remains and could not be separated?
2. Were families informed in these cases? If so, when? So who was responsible for the notification?
3. How many people’s remains are still in the department’s care as part of what MPD refers to as “group remains”?
4. Were the families of these victims informed that their loved ones were part of these “group remains”?
5. What does the ministry plan to do with the “group remains”?

Records reveal that instead of using experienced rescue teams, MPD leadership ordered officers and hired officers to collect the remains of fire victims even though they did not have proper training.

Testimonials provided by Maui police show the department did not always follow county protocols.

HNN Investigations confirmed that verified identification numbers, which were supposed to be issued immediately after the victim was found, were not assigned until they were moved at least two different times. Department management also acknowledges that crime scene photographs and GPS coordinates were not obtained in all cases. We also verified instances where body bags were not used to transport deceased from their final resting place.

In a recent email, the department now claims its responses were “misrepresented” or “taken out of context.” Vague accusations that the ministry does not support with specific examples.

In the same email, spokeswoman Alana Pico said “we will have no further comment on this matter.”

Meanwhile, HNN Investigates maintains that the information conveyed in this series of stories is supported by eyewitness accounts and interviews conducted as part of the investigation. chief prosecutor’s investigation And MPD’s own after-action report.

“I want to be very clear. The officers are not at fault here. This is more the fault of the leadership and management from top to bottom,” Camron Hurt said.

Hurt says the only way to ensure this never happens again is to address the issue publicly. So we can learn from obvious mistakes.

Up to this point, the Maui Police Commission has been virtually silent on the issue.

Hurt said, “Silence will not save you. We are listening. We pay attention. We focused. We want answers.”

The police commission is the only body with the authority to summon Maui’s police chief and answer questions in a public forum.

HNN Investigates has repeatedly asked the commission whether this will be done at its next meeting on November 20. We are waiting for a response.

Meanwhile Common Cause Hawaii launched a social media campaign demanding transparency. The watchdog group is encouraging the public to attend next week’s Maui police commission meeting to get answers.

It is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20 at 10 a.m. at the Maui County Service Center on Alaihi Street in Kahului.

If you cannot attend in person, you can attend Submit the statement electronically here. Scroll to the bottom of the page and under the contact information you will find an email for the Maui Police Commission.

Below is HNN Investigates’ media request to MPD:

Below is MPD’s response to HNN Investigates:

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