Arrest warrant issued in Kauai cold case

Kauai authorities have issues a bench warrant for the suspect in the 2010 beating death of Kauai resident Amber Jackson, whose body was found in a remote forested area on the east side of the island.

The Kauai Police Department Tuesday identified the suspect as Gregory Glaser, 57, who initially was a person of interest in the case after Jackson’s fully clothed body was discovered July 3, 2010, in Kealia by a pig hunter. At the time, detectives did not have enough evidence to charge him or anyone else with her murder, and Glaser left Kauai.

Bail for Glaser is set at $1 million, according to a KPD news release. He had not been arrested as of this evening. Police spokesperson Tiana Victorino said Wednesday he was last seen on Hawaii island.

Jackson was reported missing June 23, 2010, after she was last seen at her job with the Hawaii State Teachers Association. The Riverside, Calif., native had been living on Kauai for 10 years. An autopsy determined she died of blunt-force trauma to the head.

“Over the years, successive generations of KPD detectives built on prior investigative efforts, re-interviewing witnesses, reviewing evidence, coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, and traveling interisland and out of state to follow up on leads,” according to a KPD news release.

“I’m deeply grateful for the continued work of the Kauai Police Department and investigators who helped bring this case to this point, and we continue to keep Amber Jackson’s loved ones in our thoughts,” said Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami in the news release.

Kauai Police Chief Kalani Ke called the case “a complex investigation, and our detectives, both past and present have never stopped working to uncover the truth.”

“Today we are taking an important step in holding those responsible accountable, and we hope this brings Amber’s loved ones and our community closer to the answers they have been seeking,” he said in the release.

Kauai County Prosecutor Rebecca Like said the case has remained a priority for investigators for more than 15 years, adding the issuance of an arrest warrant “reflects a finding of probable cause under the law. These are charges, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Glaser is described as Caucasian, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds, with long, brownish-gray hair, brown eyes and a dot tattoo on his abdomen.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Sgt. Brian Silva at 808-241-1908 or KPD Dispatch at 808-241-1711. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers Kauai at 808-246-8300, online at crimestopperskauai.org or via the P3 Tips app.