04-04-2025
‘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.
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'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.
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'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.'
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