KAPOHO – Hawaii County Police are investigating the death of a woman in the Kapoho area of Puna.

Responding to a Tuesday evening report of a disturbance on Kaphoho Kai Drive, police found the body of 63-year-old Nadean Rutledge outside her home with suspicious injuries.

Image from video by Daryl Lee, taken at the crime scene in Kapoho.

Rutledge was known to many in Puna. She served as an information officer for the Wai’opae Tide Pools, a treasured Marine life Conservation District in Kapoho.

Nadean Rutledge at the Kapoho Tide Pools on August 10, 2013. Image from video courtesy Daryl Lee.

Early Wednesday morning police issued a “wanted” advisory for 40-year-old Sean Rutledge, who was believed to be “armed & dangerous”. Police stated Sean was wanted on a California extradition warrant. A police advisory issued at 8 a.m. this morning reported Sean Rutledge had been located and arrested. Police have not connected the arrest to the death of Nadean. The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported on Wednesday that Sean is Nadean’s son. The paper also reported that police declined to connect the arrest with the murder investigation.

Image from video by Daryl Lee, taken at the crime scene in Kapoho.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section are actively investigating the case. They have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone with any information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Detective Grant Todd at 961-2255.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.