5 Years After Mother Vanishes In Hawaii, Her Ex-Boyfriend Is Charged With Murder

Five years after a Hawaii mother vanished, her ex-boyfriend has been charged with her murder.

Bernard Brown, of Sacramento, California, is expected to be extradited to the island of Maui to face charges stemming from the 2014 disappearance of Moreira “Mo” Monsalve, 46. He was indicted by a grand jury for her murder last week, the Maui Police Department stated.

Monsalve was reported missing by her daughter Alexis Felicilda in January 2014. She had last been seen two days prior to the missing persons report at Brown’s residence. He lived in Wailuku, Maui at the time, a Maui police press release stated. Monsalve was supposed to pick up her son the day she vanished but she never showed up.

Brown was questioned by police at the time, but wasn't named a suspect, KHNL in Honolulu reported in 2014. While Brown thanked supporters online for efforts to help locate Monsalve, her relatives accused him of being abusive to her.

Monsalve’s vehicle was recovered shortly after she vanished, but her body has never been found. It’s not clear what details led to the Brown's murder indictment.

Felicilda, who has been credited with keeping attention on her missing mom’s case over the years, said she’d been waiting for Brown’s arrest for a long time.

“I’m shocked that after five years, we got this done,” she told KHNL. “Of course there’s anger, too. I’m angry that he felt he had the right to end my mother’s life.”

Brown’s bail has been set at $1 million dollars. It’s not clear if he has a lawyer who can speak on his behalf at this time. 

Monsalve’s disappearance was featured as part of Dateline’s “Missing in America” series.

Anybody with information about the case is urged to call Maui Police at (808) 244-6400.