Cops were after
slaying victim Culkin

The man allegedly killed
by his brother was also wanted by the feds

By Linda Aragon
Star-Bulletin

A parole violator who allegedly stole people's identities to run up huge credit bills was the same man killed Sunday morning at his brother's Aiea home, police said.

Thomas Culkin, 38, was wanted by both federal and local authorities. He died from a stab wound to the heart allegedly inflicted by his older brother, Timothy Culkin, 39, during an argument.

While Timothy Culkin is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in District Court tomorrow, Thomas Culkin's death ends a police hunt for a man who is believed to be connected to numerous hotel and car break-ins.

"He is the guy that we were looking for," said Detective Grant Moniz of the Kalihi Criminal Investigations Division.

Police called Thomas Culkin a computer whiz who used a laptop computer and electronic equipment to produce licenses with his photo, but with names, Social Security numbers and personal information stolen from his victims.

Thomas Culkin was suspected of forging thousands of dollars worth of bad checks under bank accounts he opened with the stolen identities.

He also is suspected of driving off the Mike Salta Pontiac dealership lot with a brand new Lincoln Towncar, which he put under the name of a man whose license was stolen from a Waikiki hotel room, Moniz said.

Moniz said Thomas Culkin may have been part of a theft ring. Marshals have been looking for him since September of last year.

Marshal Anne Kent said Thomas Culkin had twice been in federal prison before being paroled following a heroin conviction. The warrant described him as a white supremacist and armed and dangerous with a history of drug abuse and assaultive behavior.