Wanted Wednesday: Cold Case John Reverio

Written by Ramsay Wharton - rwharton@kgmb9.com

November 07, 2007 11:39 AM

May 14th, 2002 - A man gathering firewood near Keaau Beach Park makes a horrific discovery: the beaten and partially-burned body of 23-year-old John Reverio.

"Never in a million years would we think something like this would happen to us," said Sharon Reverio.

The tattoo on Reverio's left leg spells "Makaha." It not only helped police confirm his identity, it could also help someone remember Reverio and the events leading up to his murder.

Family members say he hung out near the Makaha 7-Eleven and had been running with the wrong crowd.

"The last three years of his life is when John got involved in doing ice," said Sharon Reverio. "We didn't know much of his friends, because I think most of the time he didn't want us to know."

"If you look in this area right here, it's deep and the brush is high," said Sgt. Kim Buffett of Crimestoppers. "Unless you were in here or smelled the body, you'd have no idea that it existed. None."

Buffet, the head of Honolulu's anonymous CrimeStoppers tip line, says Reverio had been camping at nearby Lahilahi Park prior to his death.

"They believe he was beaten and brought to this Keaau Beach Park. Gasoline was poured on him," Buffett said.

Detectives say the person or people involved may or may not have intended to kill him, but they certainly intended to cover up the crime by pulling his body into the brush and setting it on fire.

"They probably moved the body, maybe out of fear," Buffett said. "'Oh, lets burn the body.' But nobody deserves to be treated like that for whatever reason."

Buffet says whether you have a rumor or just a tid bit of information, it's not too late to help solve this crime and it's totally anonymous.

"We don't even know who you are. All we know is that you're a tip number to us. Male or female, that's all we can say," Buffet said.

A plea from the Reverio family to put their five years of agony to an end.

"Just an ounce of something," said Sharon Reverio. "If they know something about John, you can come forward. It would really, really help."

If you'd like to help solve John Reverio's murder and bring closure to the family, call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.