DNA Testing Leads to New Murder Charge in Nearly 50-Year-Old Cold Case
A Decade of Investigation
Nearly five decades after her partially clothed body was discovered on the second floor of her Honolulu high school, modern DNA testing has led to an arrest that could solve the cold case murder of 16-year-old Dawn Momohara.
The Murder
Momohara, discovered with an orange cloth wound tightly around her neck, was found on the second floor of the English building at McKinley High School in Honolulu on March 21, 1977. She was a sophomore at the school at the time.
Investigation Efforts
Her former classmate, Gideon Castro, now 66, was living in a Utah nursing home when he was arrested Tuesday in the alleged homicide, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Decades after the case went cold, Castro has been charged with second-degree murder.
The Breakthrough
Deena Thoemmes, a lieutenant with the department’s homicide detail, credited the arrest to technological advances that enabled the use of DNA samples in a way that wasn’t feasible in 1977.
A Glimpse into the Past
Thoemmes said officers found Momohara “lying on her back, partially clothed. It appeared that she had been sexually assaulted and she was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Later examinations revealed injuries and other evidence confirming that she was sexually assaulted and strangled.
The Investigation Reopens
Momohara had received a call from an unknown man the morning before her slaying, according to Thoemmes, citing homicide detectives. Later that day, she informed her mother that she would be visiting a shopping center with some friends. It was the last time her mother heard from her.
Following Up
After her body was found, detectives interviewed multiple friends, family members and acquaintances about the case — including Castro — but had failed to identify a suspect despite following up on numerous leads.
Composite sketches of a person of interest as well as a possible suspect vehicle has been available on HPD’s website for years, as it asked the public to send in any tips about the case.
The DNA Match
In 2019, however, police began processing several items recovered from the murder scene for DNA evidence, including a pair of blue shorts and underwear. The following year, they managed to obtain the DNA profile of an unidentified male from the sperm that was on Momohara’s shorts.
With assistance from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, detectives located Castro and managed to match the unidentified DNA profile to him earlier this month, authorities said. Castro is now in custody in Salt Lake County and awaiting extradition to Honolulu, according to Thoemmes.
Closure
“I want to thank all the individuals and agencies that made today’s arrest possible,” she said, noting that HPD also worked with police in the greater Salt Lake City area. “Thank you all for your dedication and commitment to the tireless pursuit of justice for Dawn and the Momohara family.”
Conclusion
The DNA testing technology that led to Castro’s arrest has brought hope to the Momohara family that they may finally get the justice they have been seeking for so long. This case serves as a reminder that even the coldest of cases can still be solved with the advancement of technology and the dedication of law enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who was arrested in connection with the murder of Dawn Momohara?
A: Gideon Castro, a 66-year-old man living in a Utah nursing home, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Q: When was the body of Dawn Momohara discovered?
A: Her body was discovered on the second floor of McKinley High School in Honolulu on March 21, 1977.
Q: What led to the DNA testing that led to the arrest?
A: Police began processing several items recovered from the murder scene for DNA evidence, including a pair of blue shorts and underwear, in 2019.
