Brothers Claim Hawaii Police Framed Them for 1991 Murder of Tourist
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Loading... - Liam Bakker
- 23 Jan 2025
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Two Native Hawaiian brothers, Albert "Ian" Schweitzer and Shawn Schweitzer, have filed a federal lawsuit against Hawaii police, alleging they were wrongfully convicted in the 1991 murder of Dana Ireland, a tourist from Virginia. The lawsuit claims that local law enforcement framed them "under immense pressure to solve the high-profile murder" and subsequently mishandled an investigation that could have identified the real killer using advancements in DNA technology.
Dana Ireland, 23, was found in a remote area of the Big Island, severely beaten and raped, and she died shortly after being taken to the hospital. Ian Schweitzer was incarcerated for over two decades for her murder, while Shawn Schweitzer accepted a plea deal for manslaughter and kidnapping, serving about a year in prison.
The brothers maintain their innocence, asserting that there was no physical evidence linking them to Ireland's murder. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu, names Hawaii County, the county police chief, former detectives, and a prosecutor involved in the case as defendants. Both the county and the police chief have declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
The lawsuit also highlights alleged misconduct that continued into 2022, when advancements in DNA technology led to the identification of a new suspect, Albert Lauro Jr. Lauro, who lived less than two miles from where Ireland's body was found, committed suicide after police collected a DNA sample from him. The lawsuit claims that police took no action to arrest Lauro, allowing him to return home despite DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene.
William Harrison, one of the attorneys representing the Schweitzers, stated that the Hawaii Innocence Project had warned the police department against releasing Lauro, predicting he would either flee or harm himself. Tragically, their concerns were validated when Lauro took his own life.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for violations of the brothers' constitutional rights, including due process, conspiracy, and malicious prosecution. Additionally, there is an ongoing effort to secure compensation from the state for their wrongful convictions. Ian Schweitzer is entitled to $50,000 for each year he spent in prison due to the wrongful conviction, while Shawn Schweitzer's time served is also being considered.
The murder of Dana Ireland garnered significant media attention, particularly due to her being a young white female victim, which, according to Kenneth Lawson, co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project, often results in heightened scrutiny and pressure on law enforcement to solve the case. Lawson noted that this pressure can lead to mistakes, both intentional and unintentional, in the investigation process.
As the lawsuit unfolds, it raises critical questions about the integrity of the investigation and the impact of societal biases on law enforcement practices, particularly in cases involving victims from marginalized communities. The Schweitzer brothers' fight for justice continues as they seek to clear their names and hold those responsible accountable for their wrongful convictions.
