Shiloh man charged in connection with Hawaii murder

The Shiloh man arrested in Hilo, Hawaii, on suspicion of murder has been formally charged.

Curtis Q. Hodges, 35, was charged Saturday with second-degree murder in connection with the death early Friday of a homeless woman in the downtown Hilo area.

An announcement posted to the Hawaii County Police Department’s website stated Hodges remains in custody at the Hilo Police Station. His bail was set at $500,000.

Police Maj. Sam Thomas said Hodges would appear in court at 1:30 p.m. local time Monday. Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time is five hours behind Central Standard Time.

Police first responded to a Hilo business shortly after midnight local time Friday after someone reported an unresponsive woman with injuries. Patrol officers immediately suspected foul play and developed Hodges as a suspect after examining the footage from security cameras in the area. Police arrested Hodges in a hostel around 11 a.m. local time Friday.

According to the department statement, additional charges may be filed against Hodges after forensic tests are completed on the woman’s body. Police have identified the woman but have not released her name pending the notification of her family. Thomas would not describe the woman’s fatal injuries and would not say what additional charges may be filed against Hodges following the forensic testing.

A second-degree murder charge indicates a victim’s death was a result of an attack that was neither premeditated nor carried out with exceptional violence, such as a rape, arson or armed robbery.

This story was originally published August 17, 2015 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Shiloh man charged in connection with Hawaii murder."