An arrest and formal charges were made against the boyfriend of a female soldier who was discovered dead in a burning car outside a high school in Hawaii.
According to court records, Samuel Jones, 25, was detained on March 15. Jones’ girlfriend, Laau Jordan Laulusa, 21, was found dead in a burning car on March 13 and Jones was formally charged with her murder, the Honolulu prosecuting attorney announced.
Jones is accused of first-degree arson as well as second-degree murder.
On Monday at around 6:45 a.m., calls were made to the police reporting a car fire in the Mililani High School parking lot in Honolulu. When the police arrived, the car was ablaze and a young woman’s body was inside.
According to the police report, witnesses saw a man open and close the car’s doors before it caught on fire. The man reportedly fled on foot, but they followed him until police arrived. Many witnesses claimed to have seen him carrying what appeared to be a blade or knife.
The victim’s family contacted a nearby news source to inform them that Laulusa had died from a neck stab wound. She reportedly sustained numerous cuts to her neck and armpit, according to other sources.
Laulusa’s relatives claimed that because she kept to herself, they were unaware of any conflict between her and Jones.
The Hawaii Army National Guard confirmed on Wednesday that Laulusa had passed away. Since 2019, Laulusa had been a member of the National Guard.
Jones, the murder suspect, was a specialist in the US Army Reserve, according to the US Army. A $1 million bail was set for him.