Suspected mastermind behind Te’o girlfriend hoax lived near a Kekua family

Ronaiah Tuiasosopo (Splash News)

Lennay Kekua

Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the suspected mastermind behind the Manti Te’o girlfriend hoax, allegedly borrowed names and places from his own back yard to cook up the romantic scam that humiliated the Notre Dame grid great.

Te’o’s fake dead girlfriend was named “Lennay Kekua,’’ and there is a real family named Kekua that lived six doors from Tuiasosopo, though no Lennay.

After Lennay’s supposed death in September, Te’o was given an address to send roses for her funeral.

The address matched Tuiasosopo’s.

Te’o said he sent white roses to the home at 21503 Water St. in the Los Angeles County city of Carson.

Neighbors said that Tuiasosopo’s family has lived there but that he moved out a year ago. He has been spotted visiting the house since.

Meanwhile, the home down the street, at 21403, belongs to a Barbara Kekua.

Tuiasosopo was a no-show yesterday at his father’s nearby church, the Oasis Christian Church of the Antelope Valley, where he normally plays in the band. The dad cried during the service and thanked supporters.

“I know [Ronaiah] doesn’t feel his best,” said his uncle, Peter Tuiasosopo, who lives in the Water Street home.

“Had he not been the way he was raised in this family, he would have done something stupid.”

Te’o and his team completed a magical 12-0 regular season, punctuated by the linebacker’s tear-jerker tale of Lennay’s death.

But it was revealed last week that “Lennay Kekua” was a fake online character.

TV talk-show host Katie Couric said she has scored the first on-camera sit-down with Te’o. His family was in Honolulu yesterday to prepare for the chat, which will air Thursday.

Te’o’s parents are also expected to speak during the interview.

The family and Couric share a publicist, Matthew Hiltzik.

Additional reporting by David K. Li in New York and Post Wire Services