A Hawaii man, Eric Thompson, has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the 2022 murder of his wife’s acupuncturist, Jon Tokuhara, who was allegedly having an affair with Thompson’s wife.
Thompson, 37, received his sentence on Friday after being convicted of second-degree murder. The murder occurred near Honolulu on January 12, 2022, and was part of a tragic and complicated series of events.
The Murder and Investigation
Thompson was found guilty of killing 47-year-old Tokuhara, who was discovered dead in his acupuncture clinic by his mother. The investigation into Tokuhara’s death was initiated after police identified Thompson’s truck at the scene using surveillance footage.
During the investigation, police discovered that Thompson had dropped his hat as he left the area, which was later picked up by a homeless man. After extracting hair and fiber samples from the man, police were able to link Thompson to the murder.
Thompson’s defense attorneys argued that he was not in the area when the murder occurred and suggested that others who may have had a motive for killing Tokuhara could have been responsible. They also claimed Tokuhara had affairs with multiple women, which might have contributed to other possible suspects.
However, the jury convicted Thompson in February after his second trial. The first trial ended in a mistrial due to the jury’s inability to reach a unanimous verdict.
Affair Between Thompson’s Wife and Tokuhara
Court documents revealed that Thompson’s wife had been having an affair with Tokuhara between May and July of 2021. The police investigation uncovered Instagram messages between the victim and Thompson’s wife, where she expressed fear of her husband discovering the relationship.
Despite this, she apparently did not want to leave her husband and ultimately ended the affair in July 2021. The last communication between her and Tokuhara was on July 23, 2021, in which she reportedly told him to stop contacting her.
Thompson’s wife, who attended the sentencing, did not speak to the media afterward but showed support for her husband in the courtroom. She had previously expressed her fear of the affair coming to light, leading to emotional strain between her and both men. Despite the circumstances, Thompson’s wife stood by him during the proceedings.
The Community’s Reaction to Tokuhara
Friends and acquaintances of Tokuhara, including his friend Elton Escobido, have been vocal about the victim’s character, stating that he was “not a homewrecker.”
Escobido emphasized that Tokuhara was a kind person who contributed positively to the community, including providing a $2,000 scholarship for high school students involved in sports and the medical field.
These words highlight the contrast between Tokuhara’s philanthropic nature and the tragic circumstances that led to his death.
Sentencing and Thompson’s Fate
At the sentencing, Thompson was also handed a 20-year sentence for a weapons charge, to run concurrently with his life sentence for murder. He will have to serve at least 15 years on the murder charge before being eligible for parole. His wife, while supportive, did not publicly address the media, and Thompson’s family declined to speak after the hearing.
As the court concluded, Thompson’s life sentence marks the end of a complicated and tragic case that involved infidelity, violence, and the destruction of a family. The loss of Tokuhara, a respected member of his community, and the emotional turmoil for both families remain at the heart of this heartbreaking crime.
Eric Thompson’s actions have left a lasting impact on both his family and the community. His violent reaction to the discovery of his wife’s affair has cost an innocent man his life. As Thompson now faces his fate, the families involved continue to grapple with the aftermath of his devastating crime.
