Larry Mendonca

Could you get any more exact? No. Given that the estranged husband, Darren, used to live with Sandra and Ryan was now dating her, their fingerprints could certainly be explained. Nothing suspicious there. But Ryan finding the body? Well, that was potentially suspicious. Did he have an alibi? Yes. And it checked out? Yes. Do you remember what it was? He was at work. So who else?

Could you get any more exact? No. Given that the estranged husband, Darren, used to live with Sandra and Ryan was now dating her, their fingerprints could certainly be explained. Nothing suspicious there. But Ryan finding the body? Well, that was potentially suspicious. Did he have an alibi? Yes. And it checked out? Yes. Do you remember what it was? He was at work. So who else?

Well, there was Sandra's estranged husband, Darren, of course. And this was interesting. That morning he called in sick. So in other words, he didn't have an alibi? No. Based simply on that lack of an alibi, the police arrested Darren.

Well, there was Sandra's estranged husband, Darren, of course. And this was interesting. That morning he called in sick. So in other words, he didn't have an alibi? No. Based simply on that lack of an alibi, the police arrested Darren.

But even as Larry tried to wrap his mind around that idea, a detective called him the following day.

But even as Larry tried to wrap his mind around that idea, a detective called him the following day.

Meaning what? Was Darren involved or not? Hit by grief and impatient for answers, Larry launched an investigation of his own.

Meaning what? Was Darren involved or not? Hit by grief and impatient for answers, Larry launched an investigation of his own.

As a native Kaua'ian and veteran Air Force intelligence analyst, Larry had both the connections and the skills to piece together the details surrounding his daughter's murder. For instance, he found out that two days before the killing, Darren, while working on a road crew, saw Sandra and Ryan together.

As a native Kaua'ian and veteran Air Force intelligence analyst, Larry had both the connections and the skills to piece together the details surrounding his daughter's murder. For instance, he found out that two days before the killing, Darren, while working on a road crew, saw Sandra and Ryan together.

At that time, and this is important to the case, Sandra and Darren shared custody of their two sons, but remember, she worked evenings at the restaurant, so the boys slept over with Darren, and at 6 o'clock in the morning, she would show up, pick them up, take them off for breakfast, get them ready for school and daycare.

At that time, and this is important to the case, Sandra and Darren shared custody of their two sons, but remember, she worked evenings at the restaurant, so the boys slept over with Darren, and at 6 o'clock in the morning, she would show up, pick them up, take them off for breakfast, get them ready for school and daycare.

But Larry discovered that on the night before she was murdered, Sandra stayed over at Ryan's house, her boyfriend. He dropped her off at her place at 6 a.m., And then the neighbors told Larry they saw her leave in her car soon after that, apparently heading to pick up the boys. And neighbors confirmed they saw Sandra's car return a short while later, but without the children.

But Larry discovered that on the night before she was murdered, Sandra stayed over at Ryan's house, her boyfriend. He dropped her off at her place at 6 a.m., And then the neighbors told Larry they saw her leave in her car soon after that, apparently heading to pick up the boys. And neighbors confirmed they saw Sandra's car return a short while later, but without the children.

Larry learned through his contacts that Sandra had a 10 o'clock appointment that morning to get her nails done at a salon about 45 minutes away. She never made the appointment.

Larry learned through his contacts that Sandra had a 10 o'clock appointment that morning to get her nails done at a salon about 45 minutes away. She never made the appointment.

The cops didn't tell him, but Larry learned from his own sources that boyfriend Ryan had an alibi. Well, husband Darren did not. All of which got Larry thinking the same thing as the police must have been Darren who murdered Sandra. Right now, I'm driven by the case. I mean, I've got to get there. Many of Sandra's friends, like Krista Hall, also thought Darren was guilty.

The cops didn't tell him, but Larry learned from his own sources that boyfriend Ryan had an alibi. Well, husband Darren did not. All of which got Larry thinking the same thing as the police must have been Darren who murdered Sandra. Right now, I'm driven by the case. I mean, I've got to get there. Many of Sandra's friends, like Krista Hall, also thought Darren was guilty.

And exactly one year after the murder, there was indeed an arrest. But it wasn't Darren.

And exactly one year after the murder, there was indeed an arrest. But it wasn't Darren.