Man from Greater Cincinnati fatally stabbed in Hawaii – family has many questions

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A local family has many questions after their brother was murdered several states away from home.

The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement (HDLE) is investigating the fatal stabbing attack of 51-year-old JD Purdin. He was killed outside Honolulu International Airport.

The HDLE said two suspects have been identified and that the stabbing is being investigated as second-degree murder.

Purdin's family said they learned of his death in early August, a month after he was killed. They don't know why someone would kill him or how he got to Hawaii.

Honolulu International Airport police found the body on July 14. It took some time for his family to locate him, but when they did, West Union residents said they were in shock.

“I was just at a loss for words. I thought, 'Why? How? Where?' And then she said, 'Hawaii.' I thought, 'How did he get to Hawaii?' And I think everyone is wondering, 'How did he get to Hawaii?'” said Purdin's sister, Brittany Adkins.

Adkins said her brother was a laid-back guy who made friends easily, making a motive harder to pin down. The six-hour time difference also doesn't make accessing information any easier.

“Nothing else really matters because we can't go back and change it. We can't go out and find his killer ourselves, so for us it's just a waiting game. We're waiting for updates, waiting for news, waiting to see if an article is going to be published,” Adkins said.

She said Purdin went wherever the wind took him. He was most recently in Florida to be with his sons and ex-wife. The family knew he was heading to Hawaii, but he wouldn't say for how long.

“I didn't see him for a year, but we always stayed in touch. I would just get messages every now and then. He would send me pictures of flowers. He would send me pictures of flowers and say, 'Hey sister, I love you,'” Adkins said.

Adkins said she will remember her brother as a fighter, even until his death. Investigators are using lab results to find the suspects.

“He fought back, which really relieved me. [our minds]. We knew he wanted to stay,” Adkins said.

Purdin's ashes will be brought to Florida to be with his sons. The family is making funeral arrangements for their loved ones in Ohio and Florida.

The family does not expect to have to travel to Hawaii. Police have sent them photos to help them identify Purdin's tattoos.