Double murder-suicide was preceded by lawsuit

HONOLULU (AP) - A man who killed his wife and 7-year-old son before hanging himself had been sued two weeks ago for writing bad checks.

Michael A. James, 43, faced a lawsuit filed June 20 by Hickam Federal Credit Union claiming he owed more than $10,800.

James strangled his 39-year-old wife, Grineline D. James, and drowned his son, Michael James Jr., before hanging himself in the family's Mililani home this week, according to the Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office, which completed autopsies Thursday.

The lawsuit accused James of writing a check for $5,000 payable to himself from his business account. James was doing business out of his home as Benchmark Marketing Group.

The check was returned for insufficient funds. James allegedly wrote repeated checks that continued to bounce.

Officials from Hickam Federal Credit Union declined to comment Thursday.

James marketed life insurance and annuity products as Benchmark Life Insurance and Annuity Consulting Group.

He also did business as Benchmark Marketing Group. Both businesses were registered with the state in April 2005.

One of James' business ventures offered an opportunity to sell a vitamin formula called 10-in-One Liquid Multi Formula.

He also attempted to sell lottery strategy through Benchmark Marketing Group.

Grineline James died from manual strangulation and Michael James Jr. had blunt-force injuries to the head and had drowned, according to the Medical Examiner's Office. Both deaths were classified as homicides.

Michael A. James died Wednesday by asphyxia due to hanging, a suicide, the Medical Examiner's Office said.

There is an ongoing investigation to determine when the wife and son died, the Medical Examiner's Office said.

Police had said the mother and child died Tuesday and James died Wednesday morning.