Dateline NBC The Bucket Hat Mystery
Oct 7, 2025
Liz Thompson, a retired homicide detective, dives into the chilling murder of acupuncturist Jon Tokuhara. She analyzes intriguing evidence, from a surgical mask to a mysterious bucket hat caught on surveillance. The case unfolds with unexpected romantic entanglements leading to a prime suspect, Eric Thompson, after DNA and vehicle ties emerge. Tension builds through a gripping narrative of trials and mistrials, illuminating the search for justice within a grieving community.
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Discovery Of The Victim
- John Tokuhara's mother found him crumpled on the clinic floor in a pool of blood.
- Investigators recovered three .22 caliber casings and no signs of a struggle, suggesting a targeted killing.
Strange Items Raise Questions
- A surgical mask on John and a backpack with about $4,000 in cash raised puzzling questions about motive and meeting context.
- The shooter did not take the cash, making robbery an unlikely motive.
Secret Affair Emerges
- Police found John had intimate messages with a married former patient, Joyce Thompson, and she admitted to a brief affair.
- That affair became a key lead and linked Joyce to her husband Eric in the investigation.