Dateline NBC’s October 3, 2025, episode, The Bucket Hat Mystery, follows the shocking murder of Jon Tokuhara, a respected acupuncturist in Waipahu, Hawaii. The case, reported by Keith Morrison, is set against the lush backdrop of Oahu but reveals a story rooted in betrayal, obsession, and a deeply personal motive that tore through a peaceful community.
Tokuhara, known locally as “The Healer,” was found shot to death inside his clinic in January 2022. The community was stunned. He had a reputation for kindness, generosity, and healing, and his sudden and violent death created a wave of fear and confusion. As the investigation unfolded, authorities uncovered a tangled web of relationships and secrets, pointing to a killer much closer to home than anyone expected.
- Where is Eric Thompson Now? 2025 Update & Background
- What Happened to Jon Tokuhara? 2025 Update & Background
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A Trusted Acupuncturist with a Complex Personal Life
Jon Tokuhara was more than a medical professional. He was a beloved friend, mentor, and son. His clinic in Waipahu was a refuge for those seeking relief from pain and stress. Patients often praised his warmth and empathy, and he was known for giving back through scholarships for local students.
But beneath the surface of his admired public life lay a secret: Tokuhara had been involved in an affair with a married woman, Joyce Thompson. The relationship began in mid-2021 and ended in July of that year, when Joyce decided to cut off communication. Despite the affair ending, Tokuhara continued to loom large in the mind of her husband, Eric Thompson.
The Murder and the Investigation
On January 13, 2022, Tokuhara’s mother, Lilly, made the horrific discovery—her son’s body was found lying in a pool of blood inside his clinic. He had been shot four times in the face. Surveillance footage near the clinic became a key element in the case. A man wearing a bucket hat, sunglasses, and dark clothing was seen approaching and leaving the clinic around the time of the murder.
A critical mistake would eventually undo the careful planning behind the murder. As the suspect left the scene, he dropped his bucket hat. The hat was later recovered and linked to Thompson through DNA evidence. This revelation came to light during Thompson’s second trial, after the first in 2023 ended in a mistrial.
The Trials of Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson, a contractor from East Honolulu, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and a firearm offense. During the first trial, jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial. Prosecutors brought the case back for a retrial in early 2025, armed with new forensic evidence.
The second trial provided a more detailed picture of Thompson’s state of mind. Prosecutors described him as controlling and unable to accept his wife’s infidelity. They argued that Thompson viewed the affair as a loss of control and planned the killing to reassert dominance over his marriage and his wife.
Thompson’s defense maintained that he was not near the clinic at the time of the murder and pointed to other individuals who may have had motives. But the jury found him guilty on all charges, including second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Sentencing and Community Response
On June 28, 2025, Thompson was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, with a mandatory minimum of 15 years for the murder charge and an additional 20 years for the firearm charge, to be served concurrently. During sentencing, Tokuhara’s family and friends spoke emotionally about the man they had lost and the pain inflicted on their community.
Jon’s sister, Lee Tokuhara Amodo, described the hole left in their lives, particularly for her twin sons who adored their uncle. She urged the court to set a long minimum sentence to reflect the gravity of the loss. Judge Paul Wong, while delivering the sentence, acknowledged the family’s grace and Jon’s lasting impact on those who knew him.
The courtroom was filled with members of both the Tokuhara and Thompson families. Thompson showed no visible emotion as the sentence was handed down. His legal team indicated plans to appeal the conviction, and a civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by Tokuhara’s mother against Thompson and his wife is still pending.
A Life Remembered and a Community Changed
Jon Tokuhara’s murder left a deep wound in Oahu’s tight-knit community. Friends recalled his generosity, sense of humor, and passion for the ocean and his family. Many described him as a beacon of positivity, someone who always made others feel seen and valued. His death, rooted in a personal betrayal, underscored how private turmoil can spiral into tragedy.
Dateline’s The Bucket Hat Mystery highlights not just a crime, but the profound human toll it exacted. Through interviews with friends, former detectives, and those closest to the case, the episode documents a cautionary tale of emotional unraveling and irreversible decisions. Behind the palm trees and ocean breeze, the pain of this loss still lingers.
More “The Bucket Hat Mystery”
- “The Bucket Hat Mystery”: Dateline Reports on Jon Tokuhara Homicide October 3 2025
- Where is Eric Thompson Now? 2025 Update & Background
- What Happened to Jon Tokuhara? 2025 Update & Background