Bellevue woman found dead near Hawaii beach, husband arrested

Smriti Saxena's body was found Wednesday on the Big Island of Hawaii. Smriti Saxena's body was found Wednesday on the Big Island of Hawaii. Photo: Courtesy Of Hawaii Police Dept. Photo: Courtesy Of Hawaii Police Dept. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Bellevue woman found dead near Hawaii beach, husband arrested 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

SOUTH KOHALA, Hawaii - A Bellevue man is under arrest for investigation of murder after his wife's body was found Wednesday along the shoreline of the Big Island of Hawaii, police officials said.

The wife, identified as Smriti Saxena, 41, of Bellevue, had been reported missing by her husband on Tuesday evening, and he had issued a public plea for help in finding her.

The husband, Sonam Saxena, 43, said his wife was last seen on the beach near Anaehoomalu Bay in the district of South Kohala. She was wearing a black dress with a multicolored floral design and a black jacket, he said.

Her purse, cellphone, credit card and driver's license were where the couple had last been seen on the secluded beach but there was no sign of Smriti, he said.

Then, on Wednesday morning, a woman's body was discovered, said Acting Capt. Thomas Shopay of the Hawaii Police Department.

The woman's identity was being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin, police said. But Shopay said her body was found in the same general area where Smriti Saxena was reported missing.

Her husband was arrested for investigation of second-degree murder. He is identified in local Hawaii media reports as a project manager for Google.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the wife's exact cause of death.

The Saxenas have two children, ages 13 and 8, who are with them in Hawaii, according to media reports. The family reportedly has a tradition of visiting Hawaii in February every year.

This article first appeared on KOMO News.