Hanalei man indicted for murder year after body with multiple gunshot wounds discovered in burned vehicle

A 43-year-old Hanalei man is being charged with murder and other offenses a year after a body with multiple gunshot wounds was discovered following a vehicle fire in Anahola.

The Kauaʻi County prosecutor’s office says Michael John Sears was indicted Jan. 15 for second-degree murder, first-degree arson and abuse of a corpse.

Kauaʻi Police Department reports that Kauaʻi firefighters responded at about 3 a.m. Jan. 12, 2024, to a vehicle fire at Anahola Beach Park.

Police officers arrived at the scene after the fire was extinguished and discovered the body of an unidentified man, later identified as Paul Nicolas, inside the vehicle.

Forensic examination of Nicolas’ body revealed that he was shot multiple times before he and his vehicle were set ablaze.

The indictment alleges Sears intentionally or knowingly caused Nicolas’ death; intentionally or knowingly set fire to or caused to be burned Nicolas’ property without his consent, causing damage in excess of $20,000; and intentionally or knowingly treated a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities.

His bail was set at $2 million dollars.

Sears has been in custody since Feb. 2, 2024, at Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center in Līhuʻe on an unrelated second-degree promoting a dangerous drug charge.

The murder investigation was led by Kauaʻi Police Department Detective Lucas Hamberg.