On the morning of April 23, 1978, a woman was found brutally murdered at a Hawaii campsite.
Valerie Ann Warshay, 26, was found at the Harry K. Brown Park in Kalapana and police immediately ruled the death a homicide. Now, more than 40 years after the slaying, police are looking for new leads into Warshay's murder.
Warshay had recently moved to the Half Moon Bay area for a career in California's park system shortly before she went on a hiking trip to Hawaii, according to reporting by SFGATE.
Even though she was on the trip by herself, she made friends quickly and was well known by the time of her death.
According to a release by the Hawaii Police Department, Warshay "made numerous acquaintances across the island, and was noted to be an avid hiker. She also played a flute or recorder-style woodwind at social gatherings." When her body was discovered, she had suffered serious blows to the head and was naked, SFGATE reported. A couple of years later, it appeared as if police were closing in on a suspect, Stephen Ray Simpson, but he was never tried.
Simpson was in the area around the time of two 1978 murders on the island and was convicted for the murder of a local college student, the paper reported.
Hawaii police issued a release last week soliciting new information about Warshay's death. The release asked that anyone who knew Warshay during her trip or has information about the crime contact Detective Derek Morimoto of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2380, via email at Derek.Morimoto@hawaiicounty.gov or a non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.
People who wish to remain anonymous can submit information through Crime Stoppers and call 808-961-8300.
People may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
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