The tragic case of Ashley Michelle Kuregian’s disappearance and subsequent discovery as a victim of homicide has sent shockwaves through the community of Kea’au, Hawaii. This heartbreaking incident, which has been classified as a murder-suicide by the local authorities, has left many questions unanswered and a family devastated by the loss of a beloved mother and partner.
As the investigation continues to unfold, it is crucial to examine the details of this harrowing case, understand the circumstances that led to this tragic outcome, and explore the broader implications for addressing domestic violence and ensuring the safety of vulnerable individuals in our communities.
On May 21st, 2022, 38-year-old Ashley Kuregian was reported missing by her boyfriend, Matthew A. Poole, after she had not been seen for approximately a week. Kuregian, a mother to an 11-year-old daughter named Delilah, was a resident of Kea’au, Hawaii.
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In response to Poole’s report, the Hawaii Police Department launched an investigation into Kuregian’s disappearance. On May 23rd, officers from the Area I Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant at Poole’s residence in Kea’au, hoping to gather more information and clues about Kuregian’s whereabouts.
As the police officers announced their presence and intention to execute the search warrant, a loud “pop” resembling a gunshot was heard from within the residence. Fearing for their safety, the officers set up a secure perimeter and activated the department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team as a precautionary measure.
Upon entering the home, the officers discovered the lifeless body of Matthew A. Poole, Kuregian’s boyfriend, with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A firearm was also found at the scene. Poole’s autopsy later confirmed that he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
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With the discovery of Poole’s body, the investigation shifted focus to locating Ashley Kuregian, whose disappearance had initially prompted the search warrant. The police used the information gathered from Poole’s residence to conduct a search in the Orchidland Estates Subdivision, a nearby area.
Around 7 pm on May 23rd, the authorities found a body “in advanced stages of decomposition” on a vacant, undeveloped property in Kea’au. The human remains were later identified as those of Ashley Kuregian.
A subsequent autopsy revealed that Kuregian had died from a single gunshot wound to the head, and her manner of death was ruled as a homicide. This, coupled with the evidence found at Poole’s residence, led the police to conclude that the missing persons case was, in fact, a murder-suicide.
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