8-Oct-2025

Dateline DNA: The Bucket Hat Mystery

Cybergenetics first appeared on Dateline in 2019. For the second time, Cybergenetics has made it onto Dateline NBC. The Honolulu “Bucket Hat” case captured America’s attention with a love triangle involving childhood sweethearts.

Cybergenetics is hosting a webinar about this case for attorneys in January 2026. The presentation will introduce Cybergenetics TrueAllele Casework services using this case recently featured on Dateline. Registration information will be coming soon.

In 2022, acupuncturist Jon Tokuhara was killed in Hawaii. Eric Thompson’s wife was having an affair with Tokuhara. Thompson became the prime suspect. The first trial ended in a hung jury. In the second, key DNA evidence was pulled. But Cybergenetics’ TrueAllele software reanalyzed the DNA on the hat and linked it to Thompson, with overwhelming statistical support. This time, the jury convicted. Thompson was sentenced to life in prison.