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10mo ago

New DNA Evidence in 1991 Hawaii Murder Case Leads to Suspect's Suicide

Albert Lauro identified as a suspect in Dana Ireland's killing; police criticized for handling of investigation

FILE - A court officer removes Albert "Ian" Schweitzer's handcuffs following the judge's decision to release him from prison immediately, after spending more than 20 years in prison, Jan. 24, 2023, in Hilo, Hawaii. A man who was identified as a new suspect in the murder and sexual assault of a woman visiting Hawaii more than three decades ago committed suicide after police took a DNA swab from him, but before he could be arrested, attorneys said in court filings late Sunday, July 28, 2024.. The DNA work represented a major development in a case that was in the headlines last year when Schweitzer, ,a man who'd been incarcerated for more than 20 years for the murder, was released based on fresh evidence. (Marco Garcia/The Innocence Project via AP Images, File)
Dana Ireland.
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Overview

  • Albert Lauro's DNA matched evidence from the 1991 murder of Dana Ireland in Hawaii.
  • Lauro died by suicide after police took a DNA swab from him, preventing his arrest.
  • The investigation has faced criticism for not detaining Lauro earlier, potentially losing key evidence.
  • Albert Schweitzer, previously convicted for the crime, was released in 2023 based on new evidence.
  • Calls for a federal investigation into the police's handling of the case have intensified.