The Mutilated Musician

Robert Kiaway Rider, known across the Big Island as Lopaka, was born in Honolulu in 1976 and grew up in the Puna district, on the wet side of the island. He was a singer, composer and ukulele player who supported himself with music, playing on cruise ships, at tide pool concerts and at the Ironman triathlon, and he was also a coconut weaver. His aunt, Lei'ohu Rider, was a celebrated Hawaiian singer and spiritual leader, and in 2007 he and his brother Wailau appeared on a Hawaiian music compilation called Namele Hula. this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed The vice division of the Hawaii Police Department then offered him a way out: if he signed on as a confidential informant targeting methamphetamine dealers, they would try to have the probation reinstated. He agreed.

the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now On 18 December 2013 officers searched his house. details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it On 29 December a woman in Captain Cook reported that a man had threatened her with a firearm and fled in a sedan. this part of the story is covered for now A search of the car turned up a loaded pistol, an unloaded shotgun, ammunition, 18.7 grams of methamphetamine, prescription pills, brass knuckles, knives and dealing paraphernalia. details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it

Lopaka's family had last spoken to him at Thanksgiving on 28 November 2013 and heard nothing afterwards. He was a free spirit who travelled for gigs, so the silence did not seem unusual at first, but by the second week of January they were worried enough to report him missing. He was declared officially missing on 17 January and the police issued a press release on 22 January. In early March 2014 a man walked into a police station and said he had been coerced into helping corner a man, had watched that man shoot him, and had helped dispose of the body. On 10 March detectives were led to brushland between the Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Pauoa Beach Drive in South Kohala, where remains were recovered at about 5.30pm. An autopsy on 12 March found gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to the head, probably from a hammer; dental records confirmed the identity the next day.

this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it The body was wrapped in plastic and taken to the lava field while one man stayed behind to clean the garage. this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it

this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it this part of the story is covered for now details of the account remain covered until revealed

Debbie Rider then sued Hawaii County, alleging that the department had disclosed her son's informant status, either directly or indirectly, and had created the danger that killed him under the due process clause. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it The case then vanished from the record, which the episode takes to mean a private settlement.