Family Says Police Refused to Search Fallen Tree for Missing Women — Relatives Found Their Bodies Eight Days After Collapse

Two women disappeared when a massive banyan tree crashed down in Hawaii. Their families say they repeatedly begged authorities to search beneath the wreckage, but ultimately had to investigate themselves. Now, a wrongful death lawsuit is heading toward trial.

The families of two Hawaii women are seeking answers after their loved ones were killed beneath a massive fallen banyan tree — and are now taking the state, local authorities and several companies to court. Trisha Jaye Almazan, 35, and her partner, Michelle Katrina Noelani Comer, 48, were beneath the tree when it uprooted and collapsed in a parking lot near Wailoa Pond in Hilo on July 12, 2025. But their bodies were not discovered until eight days later. According to the account shared by Almazan’s sister, Savana Moore, the family spent days trying to convince police to search beneath the fallen tree because they feared the missing women might be trapped there.

In a GoFundMe description, Moore said the family had reported the women missing and repeatedly urged authorities to examine the wreckage. She alleged that police refused to conduct a search, telling relatives there was nothing they could do because the area was private property. The family also reportedly noticed a foul smell coming from the fallen tree, which intensified their fears. As days passed without answers, relatives decided they could no longer wait for help. Moore said that on July 20, her sister Jessica went to the site and discovered a body before contacting authorities. Police subsequently located the remains of both women. The family expressed deep frustration that it had taken so long to find their loved ones.

The medical findings confirmed the devastating circumstances of their deaths. Autopsies conducted on July 22, 2025, determined that both women died from mechanical asphyxiation, meaning an external force or object prevented them from breathing by obstructing their airways or restricting the movement of their chests. Their deaths were classified as accidental. The families are now pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that the enormous banyan tree had not been properly inspected, maintained or made safe for the public. An amended complaint filed in July 2026 names the State of Hawaii, the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Electric, Hawaiian Telcom, Imua Landscaping and Tree Works as defendants.

The lawsuit argues that responsibility for inspecting and maintaining the tree was shared among several parties. According to the complaint, the banyan’s canopy extended over nearby utility lines and more than halfway across Kilauea Avenue, creating a potential public safety hazard. The families allege that the defendants failed to adequately inspect the area, maintain the tree in a reasonably safe condition or warn people about the danger. The filing also points to agreements involving utility poles and tree trimming, arguing that the companies and government entities had responsibilities connected to keeping nearby infrastructure safe. These are allegations in a civil lawsuit, and the defendants have not been found liable by a court.

The families are seeking damages for the suffering the women allegedly experienced before their deaths, as well as the emotional and financial harm their relatives continue to endure. According to the complaint, the women experienced fear, anguish and physical suffering as they were trapped beneath the fallen tree. Their loved ones say the loss has left them with lasting grief and the absence of the companionship and support the women once provided. The case is also drawing attention to the family’s account of its search efforts, particularly the allegation that police declined to examine the tree despite repeated requests. That account comes from the family’s fundraising statement; the full circumstances of the police response have not been independently established in the reporting.

A jury trial in the wrongful death case has been scheduled for September 2027, with a formal settlement conference planned for July 2027. Several defendants have also filed cross-claims against one another. For the families, the upcoming legal proceedings represent an opportunity to seek accountability for the deaths of Trisha and Michelle and to examine whether the tragedy could have been prevented through proper tree maintenance and a more effective response when the women were reported missing. More than a year after the tree collapsed, their loved ones are still searching for answers about what happened — and why it took eight days for the two women to be found.

Source: Law&Crime