Kirk Lankford, the 22-year-old Kalihi pest control technician who became a suspect in the widely publicized homicide investigation surrounding missing Japanese visitor Masumi Watanabe, was formally charged yesterday with murder.

Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle called a press conference to say Lankford was charged with murder in the second degree in the disappearance and death of Watanabe, 21, who was last seen walking on Pupukea Road on April 12.

Lankford, who has been described by shocked neighbors and acquaintances as a friendly, family man and Bible student, faces life in prison if found guilty. His bail was set at $1 million.

Watanabe's body has not been found. Carlisle, who carefully avoided talking about the evidence against Lankford, instead focused his statements on dispelling the perception that without the victim's body there is no case.

He acknowledged that without a body the case would depend on circumstantial evidence, and that investigators and the prosecution would need to make such evidence compelling. But he said the successful disposal of a murder victim is not a means of escaping prosecution.

"There is a myth that circumstantial evidence is inadequate to prove any case beyond a reasonable doubt," he said. "That is false in Hawai'i and in the rest of the United States."

Carlisle mentioned his successful prosecution of Frank Janto, who is serving a life sentence for the slaying of a Wahiawa woman whose body was never found. In that case, Carlisle said, he was able to present convincing circumstantial evidence that Janto had incinerated his victim at the H-POWER plant at Campbell Industrial Park.

While Carlisle would not discuss the evidence against Lankford, some light on the case could be gained from the First Circuit Court document released yesterday outlining the probable cause for continuing to hold Lankford.

That document stated that on the night Watanabe was reported missing, April 12, a witness saw a man with a flashlight digging a hole at Kahana Bay. The witness became suspicious, jotted down the license number of the truck and reported it to the police. Police established that the truck was registered to Lankford, whom the witness later identified in a photo lineup.

Meanwhile, Lankford's managers at Hauoli Pest Control told authorities Lankford said cracks in the windshield of his company vehicle had been caused April 12 when an egret flew into the windshield. The managers, who later terminated Lankford, said the damage didn't appear to have been caused by a bird.

Investigators also spoke with a witness who said the morning of April 12 she saw a confused woman matching the description of Watanabe getting into a white truck.

After authorities obtained warrants to search both of Lankford's vehicles, they discovered a pair of glasses and what may have been traces of blood. Investigators later found that the glasses matched the prescription of Watanabe's glasses, and that DNA found on the glasses matched that found on Wata-nabe's toothbrushes.

Carlisle said yesterday that while Lankford was charged with a single count of murder, the charge included "murder by commission and murder by omission."

Murder by commission, he explained, "is caused by intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Masumi Watanabe," while murder by omission "is caused by omitting to perform a duty imposed by law by knowing Masumi Watanabe was suffering from serious physical harm and intentionally or knowingly failing to obtain or attempting to obtain aid from law enforcement or medical personnel."

Because Watanabe's case has garnered attention here and in Japan, a statement by Watanabe's parents was read in English and Japanese to some two dozen members of the media attending the press conference.

The statement expressed gratitude and appreciation to all who have participated in the search for their daughter. It said the family had been comforted by the care and concern of so many during this difficult time.

It said Watanabe loved Hawai'i, and although she didn't speak much English, gladly volunteered her time at Sunset Beach Elementary School. She spent her leisure time drawing pictures of animals and pets. In the end, the family held out hope that possibly there could be a happy ending to an otherwise tragic story.

"Our family and our friends continue to pray for the return of our beloved and precious daughter, Masumi Watanabe," the statement said.

TIMELINE OF MASUMI WATANABE CASE

April 12: Japanese visitor Masumi Watanabe is last seen walking on Pupukea Road about 10 a.m. She is reported missing that night and police start a missing person case.

April 13: A witness tells police he confronted a man with a flashlight digging a hole near Kahana Valley around midnight. The man leaves in a light-colored truck, but not before the witness notes the license plate number. The truck is identified as belonging to suspect Kirk Lankford, and the witness later identifies Lankford as the man he saw digging the hole.

On the same day, another witness tells police she saw Watanabe getting into a Hauoli Termite and Pest Control truck through the driver's side door on the morning of April 12 near the Pupukea Foodland. The witness later says Watanabe looked confused and was not talking to the male driver.

April 14: Hauoli Termite and Pest Control officials tell detectives that Lankford was working in the Pupukea area on April 12. Lankford confirms this in a telephone conversation with police. Later that day at the police station, Lankford denies knowing, meeting or picking up Watanabe.

April 15: Police collect Watanabe's hairbrush, razor and toothbrushes from her residence.

April 16: Lankford is arrested at his workplace on an outstanding traffic warrant. His personal and company trucks are confiscated by police. Before he can be interviewed by police, he requests an attorney. Lankford's wife, Corinne, tells police that on the night of April 12 the couple went to church together, but afterward Lankford left home, saying he needed to do a side job in Waipahu. Corinne said Lankford's socks were muddy when he returned home, but she later tells police they were clean, according to police.

On the same day, a Hauoli Termite and Pest Control official tells police that on April 12, Lankford reported that an egret flew into the windshield of his company truck, damaging the front passenger side. The company replaced the windshield and threw out the old one. The official told police the windshield damage did not appear to be caused by a bird.

April 17: Police find a pair of glasses in Lankford's company vehicle and blood on the right front seat and right front door panel.

April 19: Police interview Watanabe's parents, who say she is introverted and would not enter a stranger's vehicle. Her father says she would struggle if she had to defend herself.

April 20: Tests show the glasses found in the truck match the prescription issued to Watanabe.

April 21: Tests show that DNA on the glasses matches DNA recovered from Watanabe's toothbrush.

April 26: Tests show DNA recovered from the passenger door panel matches Watanabe's DNA. Police arrest Lankford at 4:45 p.m. at his home at 1926 Hani Lane.

Yesterday: Lankford is charged with second-degree murder. Bail is set at $1 million, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.