Larry Mendonca

Kauai is unique in many ways, not the least of which is this. It's almost a media-free zone. Most information spreads here as it has for generations, by word of mouth, where facts, opinions, and gossip all swirl together as one. Had the news swept across the island like a rogue wave? Ryan Shinjo had been arrested, but not by the island cops, by the FBI.

Kauai is unique in many ways, not the least of which is this. It's almost a media-free zone. Most information spreads here as it has for generations, by word of mouth, where facts, opinions, and gossip all swirl together as one. Had the news swept across the island like a rogue wave? Ryan Shinjo had been arrested, but not by the island cops, by the FBI.

Ryan, it turned out, was a player in a big money drug trafficking ring, running meth from the mainland to Oahu to Kauai. Well, when people found out about that, rumors started to fly. Was Ryan using Sandra as an unwitting drug mule? When he took her to Honolulu, was she bringing back meth with her?

Ryan, it turned out, was a player in a big money drug trafficking ring, running meth from the mainland to Oahu to Kauai. Well, when people found out about that, rumors started to fly. Was Ryan using Sandra as an unwitting drug mule? When he took her to Honolulu, was she bringing back meth with her?

And the final act of that story? Sandra found out about the drug ring and was killed before she could go to the police. But that was just a rumor in a sea of rumors. Police didn't seem any closer to finding Sandra's killer, whoever it was. The case grew colder with each passing year. Larry still thought Darren killed Sandra. And it seemed wherever Larry went on this small island, there he was.

And the final act of that story? Sandra found out about the drug ring and was killed before she could go to the police. But that was just a rumor in a sea of rumors. Police didn't seem any closer to finding Sandra's killer, whoever it was. The case grew colder with each passing year. Larry still thought Darren killed Sandra. And it seemed wherever Larry went on this small island, there he was.

On this day, Larry and Sandra's mom, Toshi, had to see Darren at grandson Austin's Little League game. That's Darren on the field coaching. And in the dugout with his girlfriend, Shireen, a woman he'd known since before Sandra's murder. And it was at this point, 2009, three years after Sandra's murder... when Larry felt the time had come for him to go from investigator to avenger.

On this day, Larry and Sandra's mom, Toshi, had to see Darren at grandson Austin's Little League game. That's Darren on the field coaching. And in the dugout with his girlfriend, Shireen, a woman he'd known since before Sandra's murder. And it was at this point, 2009, three years after Sandra's murder... when Larry felt the time had come for him to go from investigator to avenger.

He was seriously thinking about killing Darren.

He was seriously thinking about killing Darren.

Fortunately, the arrival of a new Kauai police chief put his plans on hold. Daryl Perry, a 30-year veteran of the Honolulu PD, agreed to meet with Larry and listen to his theories about the case.

Fortunately, the arrival of a new Kauai police chief put his plans on hold. Daryl Perry, a 30-year veteran of the Honolulu PD, agreed to meet with Larry and listen to his theories about the case.

Chief Perry was struggling to tell us that he did know what it was like to lose a child. He came out of retirement and took the job as head of the Kauai Police Department after the sudden death of his 26-year-old son, Erickson.

Chief Perry was struggling to tell us that he did know what it was like to lose a child. He came out of retirement and took the job as head of the Kauai Police Department after the sudden death of his 26-year-old son, Erickson.

So after meeting with Larry, Chief Perry sent Sandra's file to a couple of friends in Honolulu, investigators with the state attorney general's cold case unit. I asked them to see if they can find anything else that we may have missed. And they did indeed find something.

So after meeting with Larry, Chief Perry sent Sandra's file to a couple of friends in Honolulu, investigators with the state attorney general's cold case unit. I asked them to see if they can find anything else that we may have missed. And they did indeed find something.

Using what was breakthrough science for that time, early 2009, cold case investigators extracted touch DNA from Sandra's shirt and bra. Chief Perry called Larry with the news.

Using what was breakthrough science for that time, early 2009, cold case investigators extracted touch DNA from Sandra's shirt and bra. Chief Perry called Larry with the news.

It took a scientific breakthrough to finally get Larry Mendonca the help he was pleading for. Touched DNA, microscopic skin cells on Sandra's shirt and bra. It was a match to Darren. When that result came in, tell me what your first thoughts were. Who got him? But Larry was wary.

It took a scientific breakthrough to finally get Larry Mendonca the help he was pleading for. Touched DNA, microscopic skin cells on Sandra's shirt and bra. It was a match to Darren. When that result came in, tell me what your first thoughts were. Who got him? But Larry was wary.