‘She wants justice,' Friends of cold case murder victim ask why suspect not charged
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Honolulu Police said DNA evidence identified the man who killed a teenager 48 years ago. But before that man was charged with murder, he was released and the victim's loved ones want to know why.
It's been almost 50 years since Jan Koehler last saw her friend Dawn Momohara. And her heart still hurts for her.
DNA testing identifies suspect of Dawn Momohara cold case
'She's my friend, I miss her every day,' said Jan Koehler, Momohara's childhood friend. 'She would've made something of her life. She probably would've been the president of the bank or something. She was really, she was quite special.'
Momohara was 16 years old when her body was found at McKinley High School's W-building in March 1977.
Koheler still clearly remembers that Monday morning.
Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news
'The police came over to me and he said 'Oh do you know Dawn Momohara' And I said 'Yeah I know Dawn Momohara' He said 'Can I talk to you for a minute,'' said Koheler. 'So he took me over, over to the side and he's like, well um we found her upstairs, and I just burst into tears it was just really sad.'
An autopsy found that Momohara was sexually assaulted and strangled. Koehler said Momohara was a good girl, studious and would never put herself in a compromising position.
Koheler said she didn't see Momohara that weekend and thinks she might've gone to see a comedy show at the Blaisdell.
After decades with no leads, a breakthrough in 2019 with the help of new technology in DNA testing. Police determined possible suspects in 202 and an arrest was finally made this January.
However, before suspect Gideon Castro was extradited from Utah to Hawaii, Honolulu prosecutors sent a letter to authorities in Salt Lake, outlining 'recent complications involving a material witness and the state of the evidence.'
Utah judge orders release of suspect in Momohara killing after prosecution stalls
The letter also states that 'further investigation is necessary before we proceed with extradition, which will require considerable funding and resources.'
'So go all to that trouble to do that, only now to get back, okay we found the guy, oh sorry, no more money, I mean what are you talking about,' said Koehler. 'Why bother then? You know it's, finish the job. Go get him and bring him back here. He needs to serve time he killed my friend.'
Prosecutors said they view this as a 'temporary setback' and said the case is still under investigation. In the meantime, the 66-year-old suspect is free, released back to the nursing home where he was arrested.
'I want answers from the mayor,' said Koehler. 'I wanna know why he's not being extradited back here. You know he murdered somebody, and he needs to serve time for his crime that he committed against my friend.'
After decades of questions, Momohara's loved ones just want answers.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
'I think closure for sure,' said Koehler. 'We're all looking for closure. And I think for closure, we would really love for him to be prosecuted and found guilty of murder and go to jail.'
'I think she wants justice,' she said. 'I think she knows what's going on. She wants justice.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee apartment fire; woman pleads not guilty in unrelated incident
The Brief Lakescha Warley pleaded not guilty to charges on Wednesday, June 11, in connection with fire damage inside a Milwaukee apartment building. That building later became the site of a fatal fire on Mother's Day. Warley is due back in court in mid-July. MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee woman accused of causing fire damage inside a Milwaukee apartment building that later became the site of a fatal fire that occurred on Mother's Day pleaded not guilty to charges on Wednesday, June 11. 45-year-old Lakescha Warley is charged with the following: Arson of property other than building Criminal damage to property (less than $2,500 damage) Before Warley entered her plea, the court heard testimony in a preliminary hearing. The judge then found probable cause to find Warley over for trial. What we know According to the criminal complaint, the fire damage was not connected or related to any other fire damage in other portions of the apartment complex, and was deemed an isolated fire location and damage area. It happened at Highland Court Apartments near 27th and Highland on Sunday, May 11. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android During a walk-through of the apartment building, the apartment manager pointed out a damaged key fob, which controlled the entrance from the building to the parking structure. According to the criminal complaint, the key fob had been pulled off the wall, but still had power and was beeping. The bottom of the unit was melted from heat damage, consistent with someone applying fire or heat to this unit. The damage appeared consistent with a direct open flame source being applied to the key fob. There was also a burn mark above the key fob reader consistent with an open flame being applied to this key fob. The cover to the key fob was on the floor, and also appeared to have fire damage. After reviewing security video footage from the hallway, officials noted a woman – ultimately deemed to be Warley – enter the hallway around 5:30 a.m. She is not a resident of the building and does not have permission to be in the building, the complaint indicates. Detectives deduced that Warley could be seen setting fire damage to the key fob with an open flame and then leaving. Dig deeper According to the criminal complaint, Warley returned just after 6:30 a.m. and appears to be kicking at the wall at the area of the key fob. From security footage, detectives figured that it was consistent with Warley using an open flame to the cover on the first trip, coming back and kicking the cover off, and then again putting an open flame to the key fob, explaining why there is flame damage both to the outside and inside the key fob. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Afterward, Warley admitted to law enforcement that she was the person in the hallway near the key fob. She told detectives she was using a lighter to smoke drugs in the corner, but did not explain how the fire damage ended up on both the inside electrical portion and the outside cover of the key fob, which was consistent with intentionally damaging the key fob exterior and interior with an open flame. Again, Warley has not been charged in connection with the fatal fire at the same apartment building that occurred later in the morning. What's next Warley is due back in court for a scheduling conference on July 14. If convicted, Warley faces up to more than four years in prison and approximately $20,000 in fines. The Source Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sade Robinson killed, lead detective opens up about case
The Brief MCSO Det. Donner made solving Sade Robinson's murder her only assignment. A jury convicted Maxwell Anderson of killing and dismembering Robinson. The detective opened up with FOX6 News about the case and what it meant to her. MILWAUKEE - The case of Sade Robinson captivated Milwaukee. Behind the case was a detective who made solving the 19-year-old woman's murder her only assignment from day one. What they're saying Days after a jury convicted Maxwell Anderson of killing and dismembering Robinson, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Det. JoAnn Donner opened up to FOX6 News. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Maybin: "How often did you walk (Warnimont Park) during this investigation?"Donner: "At least a couple dozen times, I think."Maybin: "Why that many times?"Donner: "I needed to focus a little bit. Sometimes I have to pull myself away from my desk to be able to do that." Donner immersed herself in Robinson's homicide case. She said she wasn't just walking through the Cudahy park to find evidence, she was talking to Robinson, too. Maybin: "What would you say to her?"Donner: "If there's anything else. If there's something she can guide me to help me figure this out or piece more together." During the investigation, Donner said she'd search the beach where Robinson's severed leg first turned up. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "We're still missing her head, so my hope was that I would be the one to find it and not a civilian or family member or something like that," she said. In the early days of this investigation, it was known Robinson had Life360 on her cellphone. The app allows people to share and track locations with one another. As it turned out, the app played a critical role in Donner and her team's search for evidence to crack the case. "To see on the backend how much it helped us, that's really what led us down the path to find all that video," she said. Video showed Robinson's first date with Anderson, as well as Anderson riding a bus after killing Robinson and torching her car. It was evidence that led the jury to convict Anderson on all counts. But Donner admits it was frustrating to not have clear video of Anderson driving Robinson's car around on the night she was killed. COMPLETE COVERAGE: Maxwell Anderson found guilty of killing, dismembering Sade Robinson "There was actually one video that he's driving by slowly," she said. "The passenger window is down. That's the camera side. As he's going by, that window is rolling up. I found myself literally bending down, hopefully, maybe a little glimpse. But yeah, nothing." Maybin: "If you could interview Maxwell Anderson, what would you ask him?"Donner: "I definitely want to know where he put her head. At least narrow down a search area for us. I have a lot of questions. Motive." After the guilty verdict was read and the courtroom cleared, FOX6 was there as Donner returned to Warnimont Park to quietly pay respects to Robinson. "Just basically hoping I did a good job for her. I wanted to leave a little bit of a tribute," she said. "That's where I met her and wanted to say goodbye." Anderson remains in the Milwaukee County Jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 15. Dig deeper The Source FOX6 News interviewed Donner for this report. Additional information is from prior coverage of the Maxwell Anderson trial.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bicyclist killed in morning crash, Lee's Summit police investigating
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An investigation is underway after a bicyclist was killed in a crash Wednesday morning in Lee's Summit. According to the Lee's Summit Police Department, at about 10 a.m., officers were called to the intersection of Southwest Jefferson Street and Southwest Scherer Road on reports of a crash involving a bicyclist. One dead after fiery motorcycle crash in Independence Initial investigations revealed that the bicyclist had been driving southbound on the sidewalk of Southwest Jefferson Street, when they drove into the westbound lanes of Southwest Scherer Road and crashed into a car. After emergency responders arrived on the scene, the bicyclist was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead by hospital staff. According to Lee's Summit police, the driver of the car declined medical care. At this time, the investigation is ongoing. Police have not released the name of the bicyclist. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android This is a developing story. Stay tuned with FOX4 News for the latest updates and information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
