Hawaii soldier found dead in burned car, boyfriend charged

A Hawaii-based soldier was discovered dead in a burned car and her boyfriend has been charged in her murder, authorities announced.

The charred remains of Hawaii Army National Guard Pfc. Asia Graham, 21, were identified Sunday after the car she was in was found aflame in a remote area of Honolulu late Saturday night. Graham had been reported missing by her family earlier in the evening.

Honolulu police arrested Graham’s boyfriend, 23-year-old Leonard Brown, and charged him with second-degree murder, arson, and other offenses. He is being held on $2 million bond.

In a press conference Monday, Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said investigators believe Graham was killed elsewhere and her body was placed in the car before it was set alight. Ballard said investigators had been tracking Graham and Brown since Saturday night.

“We had received information that they were together and we were able to track their movements until they ended up in the location where the car was found,” Ballard said. “At this time, we have a suspect in custody and we are confident that we have enough evidence to charge him for the murder.”

Graham, a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard since May 2018, had been assigned to the 29th Brigade Engineer Battalion. She was a graduate of Kailua High School and was a student at Hawaii Pacific University studying criminal justice.

“We are deeply saddened by Asia’s death,” said Col. Charles Anthony, public information officer for the Hawaii National Guard. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and fellow Soldiers during this difficult time.”

Graham’s death has sparked outrage in Hawaii and calls for justice. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help her family with funeral expenses.

The grisly discovery of the Hawaii-based soldier’s corpse in the charred remains of a vehicle and the subsequent arrest of her boyfriend has caused a stir in the Aloha State, with many citizens demanding justice. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard revealed after an investigation that authorities had been tracking the movements of the deceased, Pfc. Asia Graham, 21, and her 23-year-old companion, Leonard Brown, prior to the discovery of Graham’s remains. Brown has been charged with second-degree murder, arson, and other offenses, with a bond set at $2 million.

The Hawaii Army National Guard Soldier, who had been part of the 29th Brigade Engineer Battalion since May 2018, was a graduate of Kailua High School and was studying criminal justice at Hawaii Pacific University. Col. Charles Anthony of the Hawaii National Guard expressed grief, saying, “We are deeply saddened by Asia’s death. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and fellow Soldiers during this difficult time.” A GoFundMe page has been established to assist Graham’s family in covering funeral costs.