Matthew Joel Peak was 22 years old when his life ended in Waipio Valley, Hawaii. In 1999, he was living between Waipio and Puna, often hitchhiking through Hilo and sleeping in a simple camp in the valley. On June 1, beachgoers found a body buried in the sand near the beach. Fingerprints gave that body a name: Matthew. What followed became one of Hawaii Island’s enduring cold cases. His death was ruled a homicide after investigators determined he died from asphyxia due to homicidal violence. No suspect has ever been publicly identified, and more than 25 years later, police are still asking for the one memory, conversation, ride, or detail that could matter. Buried in Paradise goes beyond the case file to look at the young man behind the photograph, the life he was living in Waipio, the rumors that grew around his death, and the line between what people said and what investigators could actually prove. If you knew Matthew, saw him around Waipio, Hilo, or Puna, gave him a ride, or remember anything from 1999 that may help, contact the Hawaii Police Unsolved Homicides Division at 808-961-2380, Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300, or unsolvedhomicides@hawaiipolice.gov. Case F-96184. Sources:Matthew Peak Murder (F-96184), Hawaii Police Departmenthttps://www.hawaiipolice.gov/matthew-peak-murder-f-96184/Waipio Body Found Update 06/04/99, Hawaii Police Departmenthttps://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-found-update-060499Waipio Body Found Update 06/05/99, Hawaii Police Departmenthttps://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-found-update-060599Waipio Body Update 08/03/99, Hawaii Police Departmenthttps://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-update-080399Mystery of Waipio Valley murder still unsolved 25 years later, KHON2https://www.khon2.com/hawaiis-unsolved-murders/mystery-of-waipio-valley-murder-still-unsolved-25-years-later/Newspapers.com archival coverage: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, “Waipio Valley body identified” (June 6, 1999), “Foul play suspected in death” (Aug. 4, 1999), “Fear and loathing in Waipio Valley” (Nov. 15, 1999), “Police still seeking leads in these likely homicides” (May 25, 2003); Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “Police identify Waipio Valley body” (June 8, 1999); Honolulu Star-Bulletin, “Autopsy report due today on body found in Waipio” (June 4, 1999).https://www.newspapers.com/Wet and Wild: Waipio Valley, Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-03-tr-60670-story.html Music: “Broken Wings” by Yoza, used with permission. #MatthewPeak #WaipioValley #HawaiiTrueCrime #UnsolvedMurder #ColdCase
