Halawa Heights killer faced sex-assault rap

Looks like Eliseo Dumlao, a retired military man, was in the midst of a sex assault case when he killed his wife and himself.

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May 29, 2008

Halawa Heights killer faced sex-assault rap

By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

The 60-year-old Halawa Heights man who fatally shot his 45-year-old wife and then killed himself Monday had been arrested 2 1/2 weeks earlier for allegedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman.

Police arrested Eliseo Bueno Dumlao Jr. on May 8 on suspicion of fourth-degree sexual assault, a misdemeanor, in a case involving an 18-year-old woman, according to the city Prosecutor’s Office. The case was pending investigation for felony charges.

The sexual assault was reported Jan. 6, the Prosecutor’s Office said.

Dumlao’s wife, Marissa, and her 18-year-old daughter had previously moved out of the Halawa Heights apartment, and Marissa Dumlao had returned Monday evening to retrieve some clothes, a police official said.

Police responded to a dropped 911 call at 6:39 p.m. Monday at 99-801 Halawa Heights Road, Apartment 4. Upon their arrival at the Dumlaos’ second-floor walk-up, officers could hear the sound of a disconnected phone, police said.

When no one responded, police entered through a back window and found Eliseo and Marissa Dumlao in their bed, each with a gunshot wound to the head, police said.

A 9 mm semiautomatic handgun was found on Eliseo Dumlao’s chest, police said. Autopsies revealed she had been murdered and that he had committed suicide.

Police canvassed the neighborhood that night looking for Marissa Dumlao’s daughter to ensure she was all right. She was later located in good condition.

The couple had recently married. Neighbors and their landlord said there were few signs of domestic problems.

Marissa Dumlao’s co-worker at Maile’s Lei Stand at Honolulu Airport said she noticed a change in Dumlao’s usually friendly demeanor. Aurora Doble said Dumlao had grown quiet lately. Doble could sense Dumlao had problems, but she did not ask questions.

Eliseo Dumlao’s only prior criminal convictions were for driving under the influence, a petty misdemeanor, in 1999 and 2002.

Court records show Dumlao was previously married and that his ex-wife filed for divorce in 2001.

This was the second murder-suicide on Oahu in a little more than a month.

On April 25, Domingo “Bunny” Dikito, 39, shot and killed his wife, Della Dikito, 38, in their Ewa Beach house. Their 8-year-old daughter, who was at home, witnessed the shooting.

Dikito then went out into the garage and killed himself.