Woman, 90, dies after assault while sleeping

Case reclassified as second-degree murder investigation, police say

A 90-year-old woman who was assaulted while sleeping in her Harbor Lights unit in Kahului during a June 20 burglary has died, police said on Monday afternoon.

Police Lt. Gregg Okamoto said that Jacqueline Oberheim died as a result of her injuries and that the case has been reclassified as murder in the second degree.

He could not provide more details about the case and said in an email that the investigation is ongoing.

Okamoto previously said that the incident occurred when a Harbor Lights unit was broken into. The woman was attacked while asleep and suffered life-threatening injuries as a result.

In indictments returned on June 28, three people were charged with first-degree burglary of Oberheim's residence. They are Lewellyn I. Foster Jr., 35, of Kahului; Aaron A.K. Wilsey, 26, of Waikapu; and Chery M. Moniz, 29, of Kahului, according to the indictments and police records.

In addition, Foster was charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree assault. Oberheim was identified as the victim in the robbery charge.

Wilsey also was charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree theft and first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. Wilsey's robbery charge stems from an alleged incident involving a different female victim. Wilsey allegedly took the woman's backpack.

He also unlawfully entered a Honda Fit vehicle, court records show.

All three pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday before 2nd Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza and were being held at Maui Community Correctional Center.

Defendants were ordered to stay away from the Harbor Lights condominium complex, including its parking lot, and to stay away from victims in the case. The order did not include Oberheim, which raised questions about her status.

Queries to prosecutors about Oberheim on Monday were referred to police. Okamoto in his email did not say when the woman died.

Foster was being held without bail; Wilsey, on $250,000 bail; and Moniz, on $50,000 bail, according to court records.

Bail hearings for all three are scheduled for today.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.