Where Is Eric Thompson Now? Inside His Life in Prison After Being Convicted of Shooting His Wife's Lover

Hawaiian acupuncturist Jon Tokuhara was recovered changeable to decease successful his clinic, a sidesplitting authorities tied to a emotion triangle. But defense attorneys for nan convicted suspect based on constabulary overlooked different imaginable suspects pinch deadly motives.

In January 2022, Lilly Tokuhara recovered her boy lying dormant connected nan level of his agency pinch $3,900 successful a wrapper branded "herbs" adjacent to him, per nan Hawaii Tribune Herald. He had been changeable 3 times successful nan head, according to Hawaii News Now.

Surveillance footage led detectives to Eric Thompson, who had discovered six months earlier that his woman was having an matter pinch Tokuhara. He was arrested a period aft nan alleged murder.

During Thompson’s 2023 execution trial, lawman charismatic Benjamin Rose based on he killed nan acupuncturist for sleeping pinch his wife, calling it “a communicative arsenic aged arsenic time.” Thompson's attorneys based on that nan unfortunate "had a way grounds of cheating" and that constabulary ignored different imaginable leads who would person shared Thompson's motive.

Though his first proceedings resulted successful a hung jury, Thompson was convicted astatine his 2nd successful February 2025, Hawaii News Now reported.

So wherever is Eric Thompson now? Here's everything to cognize astir his life aft he was convicted of nan execution of Jon Tokuhara.

Thompson learned of his wife’s matter successful July 2021

During his 2nd trial, Thompson told nan tribunal that his wife, Joyce Thompson, began displaying overseas behaviour successful July 2021, according to Hawaii News Now. When he confronted her astir it, he alleged that she confessed to having an matter pinch Tokuhara, who had been treating her for infertility, per nan Hawaii Tribune Herald.

“I was sad astatine first, … because my suspicions were confirmed," he said connected nan stand. "I was pissed, for illustration ... why would this hap aliases for illustration what did I do to merit this? … It was conscionable really confusing."

Thompson admitted he had considered confronting Tokuhara but ne'er did, saying he and his woman chose to attraction connected repairing their matrimony instead. He testified that nan matter was “in nan rearview mirror” by nan clip of Tokuhara’s murder.

According to nan criminal complaint, a matter connection betwixt Tokuhara and Thompson's woman seemed to corroborate their matter ended astir July 2021.

Six months later, Tokuhara was changeable successful his acupuncture shop

On Jan. 13, 2022, Tokuhara was recovered dormant wrong his session successful Waipahu, Hawaii, by his mother. According to nan criminal title obtained by Hawaii News Now, she became concerned aft her boy stopped responding to her matter nan nighttime earlier and grounded to show up for dinner.

Police recovered 3 slug casings astatine nan crime segment arsenic good arsenic surveillance footage that showed a man successful a achromatic Chevrolet Silverado entering nan session connected nan time Tokuhara was murdered. He was wrong for astir 45 seconds.

During nan 2nd proceedings successful 2025, Thompson’s attorney, David Hayakawa, revealed to nan tribunal that $3,900 successful ample bills had been recovered adjacent to Tokuhara's body. The money was successful a wrapper that was branded pinch nan connection "herbs," per nan Hawaii Tribune Herald.

Thompson was arrested successful February 2022

In nan criminal complaint, constabulary stated that they identified 53 vehicles akin to nan 1 successful nan surveillance video. Of each nan owners, Thompson was nan only 1 who allegedly didn't person an alibi.

Hawaiian authorities besides recovered a chapeau that nan man successful nan information footage had dropped aft leaving Tokuhara's clinic. DNA testing could not exclude Thompson from nan floor plan recovered connected nan hat, per nan Hawaii Tribune Herald.

The Thompson location was searched connected Feb. 1, 2022, and reportedly turned up a twelve firearms. Thompson was arrested weeks later and charged pinch individual counts of second-degree execution and carrying aliases utilizing a firearm successful nan committee of a abstracted felony.

Thompson's defense attorneys claimed aggregate group had motives to termination Tokuhara

During Thompson's 2nd proceedings successful February 2025, Hayakawa told jurors that his client's woman wasn't nan first female nan unfortunate had cheated with. He described Tokuhara arsenic having "a way grounds of cheating" and claimed that he besides had a gambling addiction, per nan Hawaii Tribune Herald.

However, he alleged that nan constabulary were "suspect-centric" and ignored "evidence that pointed to different leads."

Two men whose ex-partners had been engaged successful affairs pinch Tokuhara besides took nan stand, per Hawaii News Now. They some denied immoderate engagement successful his death.

"I knew I’d ne'er beryllium capable to spot her again because that was a immense portion for maine arsenic a person," John Demarco, 1 of nan men, testified of his relationship. "I was conscionable for illustration bully riddance. I called him up and we weren’t yelling aliases anything. I’m not a fighting type."

Thompson's first proceedings resulted successful a hung jury 

In August 2023, a tribunal declared a mistrial successful Tokuhara's lawsuit erstwhile jurors couldn't scope a unanimous verdict, per Hawaii News Now. Thompson was retried complete a twelvemonth later successful February 2025, and nan prosecution pointed retired inconsistencies from his 2023 testimony.

He was recovered blameworthy of some second-degree execution and carrying aliases utilizing a firearm successful nan committee of a abstracted felony.

"Tokuhara was not a homewrecker," Elton Escobido, a friend of Tokuhara, told Hawaii News Now. “He’s a bully guy. I mean, he gives backmost to nan community."

Where is Eric Thompson now?

Four months aft he was convicted, Thompson was sentenced to life successful situation pinch nan anticipation of parole. KITV reported that he must service a minimum of 15 years earlier he's eligible for parole and noted that nan Hawaii Paroling Authority could group a longer term.

The prosecution confirmed to KITV that they planned to inquire for a higher minimum sentence.

Since his June 2025 sentencing, Thompson has been serving clip astatine nan Halawa Correctional Facility successful Aiea, Hawaii. His defense squad told Hawaii News Now that he planned to appeal.