Gideon Castro released as Hawaii prosecution stalls on 1977 murder case
- Gideon Castro was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder for the 1977 killing of Dawn Momohara.
- Prosecutors in Hawaii have indicated they are not ready to proceed with the case due to complications with evidence.
- Castro's release has been met with disappointment, but authorities continue their investigation into Momohara's murder.
In a remarkable turn of events, Gideon Castro, a 66-year-old suspect in the 1977 murder of Dawn Momohara, was released from jail in Utah after Hawaii prosecutors indicated they were not prepared to move forward with the charges. The incident that led to Castro's arrest stemmed from Momohara's death on March 21, 1977, when her body was found at McKinley High School, partially clothed, with evidence suggesting she was sexually assaulted and strangled. Despite advancements in DNA technology that ultimately linked Castro to the crime, recent complications with a critical witness and the state of the evidence prompted the prosecutors to hold off on proceeding with the murder charge. This development came shortly after Castro had waived his right to contest his extradition during appearances in court. Castro, who graduated from the Honolulu school a year before Momohara's death, was apprehended in January at a nursing home in Millcreek, Utah, where he had been living after being tracked down by authorities. The case had grown increasingly complex over the years, with police using new DNA techniques to connect Castro to the cold case after initially failing to identify him as a suspect despite interviewing him and his brother shortly after the murder occurred. The Honolulu police had released sketches of possible suspects and vehicles linked to the case, but ongoing investigative efforts had not prevented the judicial system from faltering in the face of inadequate evidence. Following his release, a spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office confirmed the order issued by Utah District Court Judge John Nielsen, expressing concerns over the quality of the prosecution's case. While public sentiment among those connected to the case expressed disappointment in the outcome, prosecutors maintained that they would continue their investigation, indicating their intention to pursue the matter as soon as they are able. The community remains hopeful for justice for Momohara, even as the legal proceedings experience setbacks, and authorities in Honolulu have committed to keeping the investigation active.