Peter J. Kema, Jr., age 6, often called Peter Boy, was abused and murdered by his parents, Peter Kema, Sr. and Jaylin Kema. Peter Boy was homeschooled. His older half-siblings, Chauntelle and Allan Acol, and younger sister Devalynn ‘Lina’ Acol, were also abused.
In August 1991, when Peter Boy was only a few months old, he and his siblings were removed from their parents’ care after authorities discovered signs of abuse; Peter Boy had broken bones and Allan reported that his parents beat him and his siblings. The children were raised by their grandparents, James and Yolanda Acol, until 1995 when they were returned to the Kemas. According to Allan, the Kemas soon resumed physically abusing their children. Peter Boy’s abuse included being shot with a pellet gun, locked in the trunk of a car, and forced to eat dog feces. Though Peter Boy was enrolled in preschool, he was soon withdrawn from school to be homeschooled. In June 1997, Lina witnessed Peter Boy’s death and the Kemas’ attempts to hide the body.
The Kemas did not report Peter Boy missing until January 1998; the other children were interviewed at this time, reported abuse, and were permanently removed from the home. Peter Kema, Sr., insisted that he had left Peter Boy with a relative who is believed not to have existed. No charges were filed against the Kemas until 2014 because Peter Boy’s body was never found. Jaylin Kema pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2016 and was sentenced to time served. Peter Kema, Sr., pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2017 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Date: June 1997
Location: Keaau, Hawaii
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