Sacred Hearts Principal Praised Slain Teen
POSTED: 5:26 am HST August 20, 2010
UPDATED: 5:05 pm HST August 20, 2010
HONOLULU -- Honolulu police are investigating the deaths of three people found in a home early Friday morning after neighbors reported hearing breaking glass and several rounds of gunfire.
Police said responding officers found two adults -- a man in his 40s and a woman in her 40s -- and a 13-year-old girl dead from apparent gunshot wounds shortly after 1 a.m. at Makiki Street in Honolulu. Police said there were signs of a forced entry and a 9-mm handgun was found at the scene.
Clayborne Conley, 43, apparently broke into the home rented by Kristine Cass, 46, and her 13-year-old daughter then apparently shot the two and their dog, then killed himself, police said.
“This morning, prior to 1 a.m., neighbors heard glass breaking at the scene, followed by several gunshots,” said Capt. Britt Nishijo of the Honolulu Police Department. “Responding officers located within the residence an unresponsive adult female, an adult male and a juvenile female with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.”
Valerie Guillermo said she awoke to gunshots.
"Then I heard a man's voice. He was swearing," Guillermo said. "Then another shot and she said, 'stop! Stop! Help! Help! Stop! Then she went silent."
Cass suffered multiple gunshots, sources said. Her daughter, Saundra, was shot in the head as she was sleeping in bed, authorities said.
Police also found a dog shot dead.
Investigators classified the case a homicide and unattended death.
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Conley was a former Hawaii Army National Guard member with the 29th Infantry Brigade, who was discharged more than 3 years ago. Conley had 10 prior arrests, police said.
He was divorced in 2007, had three convictions, including temporary restraining order violations, criminal property damage and assault, according to court documents.
What is not clear is the relationship between Conley and Kristine Cass.
Witnesses have told police the two knew each other for a few months and may have gone out for coffee before, but never dated and that she may have rejected his advances several times.
Saundra Cass was a student at Sacred Hearts Academy.
"She was just a beautiful, beautiful person, kind, generous, helpful. All of her teachers loved her. I don't think she had any enemies here," Sacred Hearts Academy Principal Betty White said.
Saundra Cass was a model student who excelled in math and science, but seemed to have a budding passion for the arts, White said. Cass just had a starring role in the school's production of "The Sound of Music."
Saundra Cass started at Sacred Hearts as a sixth grader and was voted onto the student council, White said.
"So, that tells you the type of person who can come into a class that's already formed and be accepted and be bonded with them," White said.
White described Kristine Cass as a good mother.
"The mother was quite involved because the girl was involved. so, it was like a parent who never comes on campus," the principal said. "She was very protective of the daughter."
Saundra Cass was starting the eighth grade this year. School was not in session on Friday because it is a holiday, but the eighth-grade class was supposed to be on campus in the morning for pictures.
When classes resume on Tuesday, the school will have grief counselors on hand to help students through the tragedy, White said.
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