A man suspected of being involved in the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a 23-year-old tourist in Hawaii over 33 years ago has taken his own life before authorities could arrest him, according to Hawaiian officials. The Hawaii Police Department confirmed that 57-year-old Albert Lauro, Jr.’s DNA matched evidence found on the body of Dana Ireland, who was killed in the Kapoho area of Hawaii’s Big Island on Christmas Eve in 1991. However, when the police returned to Lauro’s home to administer a DNA cheek swab, they found him dead inside, and it appeared to be a suicide.
Dana Ireland’s brutal case has remained unsolved for nearly 33 years, with three men originally convicted of her murder. One of the convicted men died in prison, and the other two were later found to be wrongfully convicted, while the actual perpetrator remained at large. Authorities were able to link Lauro to the crime scene through DNA evidence obtained from a discarded fork he had used, which matched samples collected from the murder scene.
Despite the DNA evidence linking Lauro to the rape, the statute of limitations had expired for charging him with the crime. The police did not have enough evidence to charge him with murder. Lauro took his own life after the police attempted to collect a DNA sample from him at his home. Investigators are now searching through Lauro’s cellphone for any additional information that could bring closure to Ireland’s family and friends.
The attorneys representing the Schweitzer brothers, who were also wrongfully convicted in connection with Ireland’s murder, accused the Hawaii police of mishandling the investigation into Lauro. They claimed that the police failed to take necessary precautions to prevent Lauro from fleeing or harming himself after obtaining his DNA. However, the Police Chief denied any wrongdoing and stated that the investigation into Ireland’s case is ongoing.
Dana Ireland, who was visiting from Virginia, was found severely injured on a fishing trail in Puna, Hawaii, in 1991. She was sexually assaulted and beaten and later succumbed to her injuries at a medical center. The case has remained a mystery for over three decades, and with Lauro’s death, the full truth of what happened may never be known.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis, there are resources available to help. In New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. Outside the city, the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 is available 24/7, or you can visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org for assistance.
