Native Hawaiian Brothers Sue, Claim Police Framed Them in 1991 Tourist Murder

A federal lawsuit alleges police misconduct and wrongful convictions, with new DNA evidence pointing to another suspect.

Albert 'Ian' Schweitzer and Shawn Schweitzer, convicted in the 1991 murder of tourist Dana Ireland, have filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were framed by police under pressure to solve the case.
Ian Schweitzer was released in 2023 after spending over 20 years in prison when new DNA evidence cleared him; Shawn Schweitzer had taken a plea deal for a reduced sentence in 2000.
The lawsuit claims police misconduct persisted into 2023, as advancements in DNA technology identified another suspect, Albert Lauro Jr., who later died by suicide after providing a DNA sample.
The suit names Hawaii County, its police chief, former detectives, and a prosecutor, accusing them of conspiracy, malicious prosecution, and violating the brothers' constitutional rights.
The brothers are seeking unspecified damages and state compensation for their wrongful convictions, with Ian Schweitzer entitled to $50,000 per year of incarceration under state law.