Shivangi Sinha
In January 2022, Jon Tokuhara’s mother discovered that he had passed away from gunshot wounds at his office in Waipahu, Hawaii. She immediately alerted the authorities, which prompted an investigation. CCTV footage captured the suspect, though their identity was initially unclear. When a distinctive hat came into police possession, it helped them narrow down the list of potential suspects. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Bucket Hat Mystery’ highlights the details of the case and explains how law enforcement ultimately identified and apprehended the perpetrator.
Jon Tokuhara Was Shot Multiple Times in His Office
Born on February 13, 1974, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jon Satoshi Tokuhara was the beloved son of Lilly and Walter Tokuhara. Alongside his sister, Sissy Lee Tokuhara, he was raised in a supportive and loving home. From a young age, Jon excelled in both academics and athletics, participating in judo, baseball, volleyball, and rugby. After graduating from Waipahu High School, he pursued a career in alternative medicine. He attended the University of Portland before completing a Master’s degree in Chinese medicine and acupuncture at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. During this time, he also developed a passion for snowboarding, rock climbing, and ocean activities.
After completing his education, Jon returned to Hawaii and opened his own practice, Tokuhara Acupuncture & Healthcare. A devoted family man, he adored his two nephews and often took them on outdoor adventures. In 2021, he accomplished a personal milestone by solo paddling across the challenging Kaiwi Channel, an achievement he held with great pride. On January 13, 2022, concern grew when Jon stopped responding to calls, prompting his mother, Lilly, to visit his office. There, she discovered that the 47-year-old had been fatally shot in the face four times. Authorities were immediately notified, and the search for his killer was launched.
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Jon Tokuhara’s Killer Left Behind a Hat That Led to His Conviction
When police arrived at the scene, they immediately noticed nearly $4,000 lying next to Jon Tokuhara’s remains. Given the brutality of the attack and the untouched cash, investigators suspected a personal motive rather than a robbery. Looking into his background, they learned that Jon was known to gamble and allegedly had some outstanding debts. Surveillance footage from the building showed a man in a white bucket hat entering and exiting the clinic around the time of the murder. As the suspect left, the hat fell to the ground, where it was later picked up by a man experiencing homelessness. The police retrieved the hat and sent it for testing while identifying potential suspects.
They noted that about six months earlier, Jon had an affair with Joyce Thompson, a married woman with a daughter. The white Chevy Silverado seen leaving the clinic, believed to belong to the perpetrator, matched the truck owned by Joyce’s husband, Eric Thompson. At his home, police also found a burned-out pot in a wheelbarrow, and a neighbor’s surveillance camera had captured flashes of fire from the house on the night of the crime. However, Thompson claimed he was at the Waimanalo dump disposing of bricks at the time of the murder. He said he later made a cash purchase at Longs Drugstore, and afterward lit a tiki torch to play with his daughter. When police measured the time it would take to cover the distances, his alibi proved inconsistent. Additional evidence soon directed investigators’ focus toward Thompson. He was the owner of a .22-caliber gun, the same type used in the shooting.
On January 2, Thompson and Joyce had signed an agreement stating that if they divorced, Thompson would gain sole custody of their daughter as well as the family home. From Joyce’s desk, police also recovered a note that read, “an unfaithful spouse will not show remorse.” Detectives concluded that Thompson’s motive for the crime may have been jealousy over the affair. When the bucket hat was tested, results showed it was highly likely that Thompson’s DNA was present. In February 2022, he was placed under house arrest. His first trial in 2023 ended in a mistrial, but in his second trial, which began in March 2025, he was convicted of second-degree murder and a firearm charge. He received a life sentence without parole and will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
