Fil-Am’s body found in sinkhole, mom fears foul play by Hawaii organized crime

Michael Salas’ body was found in a sinkhole in a remote homeless camp. His mother suspects foul play. FACEBOOK

A Filipino American mother in Oahu, Hawaii, found the body of her son in a homeless camp sinkhole and fears that he was a victim of foul play linked to the prison murder of her other son who was an informant against a reputed crime boss.

Janet Salas found the body of her eldest son, Michael Salas, 34, last month in a sinkhole covered by brush in a remote homeless camp in Kalaeloa, Oahu.

Honolulu police said the case was an unattended death, and Salas said HPD told her no foul play was suspected.

“My son hung himself, he died, got off whatever he hung himself on, wrapped himself in a blanket and crawled into a hole?” an incredulous Salas told Hawaii News Now.

She wonders if Michael’s death is linked to a federal investigation of a criminal organization allegedly led by one Michael Miske, who was arrested in 2020 for a murder-for-hire plot, kidnapping, racketeering and obstruction.

Janet’s other son, James, was an FBI and Honolulu Police informant who testified that in 2016, he saw Jonathan Fraser, who was reported missing, being tortured in a Kalihi home by Miske associates, according to court documents.

James Salas was murdered in the Oahu Community Correctional Center where he was detained for probation violation.

The Salas family lawyer said James Salas repeatedly asked jail guards to put him in solitary confinement because the information he provided to authorities put him in danger of gang retaliation.

But they put him in general prison population in an annex with broken security cameras, and he was beaten to death. No one was arrested.

Janet Salas will be paid $700,000 as part of a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit. Lawmakers approved the settlement, which will be paid out later this summer, Hawaii News Now reported.