Arrest Made in 46-Year-Old Cold Case of McKinley High School Student's Murder

In 1977, Suzanne Chun Oakland, then a 15-year-old student at McKinley High School in Honolulu, was struck by the news of a tragic event when her classmate Dawn Momohara was found dead. Despite not knowing Momohara personally, the loss left a lasting impact on Chun Oakland and other students, leaving them haunted by the unsolved murder for nearly fifty years.

The case took a significant turn last week when advancements in DNA technology led to the arrest of Gideon Castro, a 66-year-old man living in a nursing home in Utah. Castro is expected to appear in court, facing second-degree murder charges after being implicated in Momohara's murder, where she had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Chun Oakland expressed her sadness upon hearing about the arrest, reflecting concerns for others who could have been at risk.

On the day of Momohara's death, Honolulu police found her body partially clothed on the school premises, with evidence indicating she had been strangled. Grant Okamura, who was a band teacher at McKinley High at the time, recounted how devastating it was for Momohara's sister, who was a student in his class, to learn of the tragedy. He described how the atmosphere changed following the incident, emphasizing the grief that lingered among students and staff.

Investigators initially had little success and the case eventually grew cold, even with evidence pointing to a male DNA sample discovered on Momohara's clothing. It wasn't until 2019 that cold case detectives revisited the evidence, leading to the development of a DNA profile which ultimately linked Castro to the crime. The investigation then shifted to examining his family, which culminated in Castro's arrest this past week, providing a glimmer of hope for justice after so many years.

Chun Oakland, who went on to have a career in politics and advocacy, expressed her gratitude for the progress made in the investigation. She highlighted the importance of preserving evidence and the role of community and leaders in seeking justice for victims of violence, continuing the fight for those who have suffered similar fates over the years.