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OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
County of Kaua‘i, State of Hawai‘i
3990 Ka‘ana Street, Suite 210, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766
808-241-1888 ~ FAX 808-241-1758
Victim/Witness Program 808-241-1898 or 800-668-5734
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Rebecca Like
Acting Prosecuting Attorney
Jennifer S. Winn
Acting First Deputy
Leon J. C. Davenport, III
Acting Second Deputy
Diana Gausepohl-White
Victim/Witness Program Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2021
Contact: Rebecca V.
Like
Phone: (808) 241-1888 ext. 1
Judge Sentences Man to Life Without the Possibility of Parole for 2018 Murder
LIHUE, Kauai – A man has been sentenced to a life term of imprisonment without
the possibility of parole for killing his landlord and retired school teacher, Joellen
Hartman.
Peter Grewer, 65, formerly of Omao, was found guilty in May of 2021 for Murder
in the Second Degree after a month-long jury trial. The case was prosecuted by
Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys, Kimberly A. Torigoe and Matthew H. Arakawa.
Lt. Christopher Calio of the Kauai Police Department’s Investigative Services
Bureau was the lead investigator on the case.
According to witness testimony and evidence, shortly after Ms. Hartman evicted
Grewer from her rental, Ms. Hartman was found with 17 stab wounds. She was
discovered inside of her locked home on Pune’e Road in Omao, deceased in her
wheelchair. After a search warrant was executed on Grewer’s rental unit, police
found shorts stained with Ms. Hartman’s blood and Ms. Hartman’s key set for
her home and vehicle. The police also observed fresh scratches on Grewer’s
chest and Grewer’s DNA was found on Ms. Hartman’s fingernails and fingertips.
On Monday, Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano sentenced Grewer
to a life term of imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Judge Valenciano
agreed with the jury’s finding that Grewer’s crime was both especially heinous,
atrocious, or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity and that GREWER knew
or reasonably should have known that the victim was 60 years of age or older
and an extended term of imprisonment was necessary for the protection of the
public.
Acting Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like said “Justice was served in this case.
Deputies Torigoe and Arakawa were diligent in navigating a jury trial in the midst
of the pandemic. Our community should rest easier knowing that this dangerous
individual will never walk the streets again. Mahalo also to the investigative
team at the Kauai Police Department who worked tirelessly collecting and
analyzing evidence in this gruesome, heinous murder. Our hearts are with the
family and friends of Joellen Hartman today.”
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