Larry Mendonca
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Wandering through this land, you wonder if you've been transported to the beginning of biblical time. to a garden free of want, temptation, or betrayal. And in a land so distractingly beautiful, tourists who ebb and flow like the tides could be forgiven for looking past this lone, tormented father, begging for help for a terrible reason to solve the murder of his precious daughter, Sandy.
Wandering through this land, you wonder if you've been transported to the beginning of biblical time. to a garden free of want, temptation, or betrayal. And in a land so distractingly beautiful, tourists who ebb and flow like the tides could be forgiven for looking past this lone, tormented father, begging for help for a terrible reason to solve the murder of his precious daughter, Sandy.
It's all good. We first came upon Larry Mendonca, well, on another Dateline assignment, way back in 2009. which is when we shot this video. He was 68 years old then. Alone, he worked, handing out flyers, gruff and stoic, except when the pain was just too much. I just said, you know, three years.
It's all good. We first came upon Larry Mendonca, well, on another Dateline assignment, way back in 2009. which is when we shot this video. He was 68 years old then. Alone, he worked, handing out flyers, gruff and stoic, except when the pain was just too much. I just said, you know, three years.
Larry took us to Sandra's grave, told us how he promised to bring her killer to justice.
Larry took us to Sandra's grave, told us how he promised to bring her killer to justice.
We had no idea, then, where this meeting would lead us, that our journey would last a decade, in case it would expose evil lurking in this garden paradise and bring Larry to the edge of his own mortality. Many on Kauai News, Sandra, even watched her as a teenager dancing in a local marketing video. Later, as a 20-something, at the head of a parade float.
We had no idea, then, where this meeting would lead us, that our journey would last a decade, in case it would expose evil lurking in this garden paradise and bring Larry to the edge of his own mortality. Many on Kauai News, Sandra, even watched her as a teenager dancing in a local marketing video. Later, as a 20-something, at the head of a parade float.
Like many here, she was multiracial, growing up in a household that was half Japanese, half Portuguese, all Hawaiian. And a devout Catholic who attended St. Catherine's School with friends Alma Umala and Joni Morita. So when people ask you, what was Sandy like, you tell them.
Like many here, she was multiracial, growing up in a household that was half Japanese, half Portuguese, all Hawaiian. And a devout Catholic who attended St. Catherine's School with friends Alma Umala and Joni Morita. So when people ask you, what was Sandy like, you tell them.
In high school, Sandra was an athlete, a cheerleader, very popular.
In high school, Sandra was an athlete, a cheerleader, very popular.
Discipline, a very important thing to Larry, he the 20-year Air Force veteran.
Discipline, a very important thing to Larry, he the 20-year Air Force veteran.
That was why Mary insisted Sandra leave Kauai to go to college. She ended up in Honolulu. But for a small island girl, it felt as big and lonely as New York City. She missed Kauai, her family, and would come home as often as she could.
That was why Mary insisted Sandra leave Kauai to go to college. She ended up in Honolulu. But for a small island girl, it felt as big and lonely as New York City. She missed Kauai, her family, and would come home as often as she could.