Former Kailua-Kona man gets life in Arkansas killing of Kona woman

A former Kailua-Kona man will spend the rest of his life in prison after an Arkansas jury convicted him in the killing of Allison Maria Castro, a Kona woman who also graduated from Kealakehe High School. Kacey Kawika Jennings, 33, was sentenced June 23 in Washington County to life without parole, plus 22 years and a $30,000 fine, after jurors chose not to seek the death penalty.

The verdict came June 22 after jury selection began June 10 and opening statements were held June 15 in Washington County Circuit Court. Jennings was found guilty of capital murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and theft of property in the death of Castro, who was 28.

Prosecutors said Jennings shot Castro with a shotgun on Aug. 19, 2022, in the apartment they shared in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Video evidence on Jennings’ phone showed him admitting he shot Castro in the chest and head, dismembered her body and disposed of the remains in different locations. He also sold some of her belongings on Facebook Marketplace, used her credit card to buy cleaning supplies, cleaned up the apartment and sent messages from Castro’s phone to make it appear she was still alive.

Jennings was found overdosing at his home on Sept. 19, 2022, which prompted searches near Beaver Lake for Castro’s remains. Castro’s family said they had traveled there about 30 times looking for her remains.

Jennings and Castro had Kona roots and Kealakehe ties. Castro’s remains have still not been fully recovered.