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Honolulu police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the purse-snatching death of an 85-year-old woman in Kalihi. Read more

Honolulu police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the purse-snatching death of an 85-year-old woman in Kalihi.

The case reflects a distressing spike in crimes against seniors in Hawaii, said Deputy Prosecutor Scott Spallina.

Police arrested the youth on North King Street in Kalihi at about 4:40 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of manslaughter in the death of Dolores Corpus.

Corpus and her husband, John, 82, were on a walk at about 5:40 a.m. July 21 when a bicyclist snatched her purse and fled.

Corpus said he didn’t see the purse-snatching, but found his wife lying in the crosswalk on Kamehameha IV Road at Kini Place. Her purse, which contained $2,000 in cash, was missing.

The couple walked home and called police. Emergency Medical Services also responded to treat Corpus’ injuries.

She was taken to a hospital, where her condition worsened. She died July 26 from traumatic head injuries.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office classified the death as a homicide. CrimeStoppers released surveillance videos of the culprit, seeking the public’s help in identifying him.

It is unclear whether the teen was charged with manslaughter. The Honolulu Police Department declined to release information on the case because he is a minor.

If he is tried as a juvenile, he could be held until he is 18.

If he is tried as an adult, he could face life in prison because manslaughter involving a victim over 60 is a Class A felony with enhanced sentencing.

Over the past three years, Spallina, founder of the prosecutor’s Elder Abuse Justice Unit, said there has been a spike in crimes against seniors “in places that we considered safe at one point” — that is, in broad daylight and in crowds.

Spallina reminded the public, especially seniors, to be aware of their surroundings.

“It’s not the same world as it was at one point,” he said. “(We) need to be more careful.”