In a stunning development for one of Hawaii’s oldest cold cases, 66-year-old Gideon Castro has agreed to extradition from Utah to face charges for the 1977 murder of 16-year-old Dawn Momohara. DNA evidence, unavailable during the original investigation, provided the critical link to Castro nearly five decades after the crime.
Honolulu police discovered Momohara’s body in a school building on March 21, 1977, with an orange cloth wrapped around her neck. The teenager had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Despite interviewing Castro and his brother that year, investigators lacked conclusive evidence until modern forensic technology identified Castro’s DNA at the crime scene.
He intends to fight the charges. But he agrees to be extradited to fight the charges in Hawaii,said defense attorney Marlene Mohn during Castro’s hospital bed hearing.
Key developments in the case include:
- 1977: Initial suspect interviews yield no charges
- 2020s: Advanced DNA analysis matches Castro’s sample
- 2023: Arrest at Utah nursing home on second-degree murder warrant
Castro, who maintains Hawaii residency despite living in Millcreek, Utah, faces renewed scrutiny as prosecutors prepare their case. His declining health adds complexity to proceedings, with the trial expected to highlight how cold case units leverage evolving technology to pursue justice.
