Inset: Frank Bright (Honolulu Police Department). Background: The Honolulu residence where Frank Bright is accused of using a tomahawk to murder his wife Aimee Takaki-Bright (KHNL/YouTube).
In Hawaii, a man is accused of brutally killing his wife with a tomahawk, less than half a year into their marriage. Authorities state that he inflicted “multiple chop wounds” to her head and neck inside their shared Honolulu home.
Frank Bright, 38, was apprehended over the weekend, charged with second-degree murder, after his wife, Aimee Takaki-Bright, 43, was discovered deceased in their home on September 4, as per the Honolulu Police Department. Bright appeared in court on Tuesday, where local NBC affiliate KHNL reported his bail set at $1 million.
During a press briefing on Monday, police outlined the circumstances leading them to the rented home. They received a notification from the landlord about the front door being ajar and no response to his attempts to contact the tenants.
“Items were scattered inside,” said Lt. Deena Thoemmes, with the Honolulu Police Department. “Both tenants’ vehicles were parked in the driveway.”
Responding officers entered the residence and found Takaki-Bright inside with wounds to her face, neck, and back of her head.
“These injuries were consistent with both blunt force and the use of a bladed weapon,” Thoemmes told reporters.
A tomahawk stained with blood allegedly matching Takaki-Bright’s DNA was discovered nearby the scene, authorities confirmed. The autopsy revealed she succumbed to “multiple chop wounds,” classifying her death as a homicide. The previous night, Bright had been detained for “unrelated charges” of criminal trespassing and terroristic threatening, reportedly wearing jeans and a glove stained with blood, according to Thoemmes.
Reports from KHNL indicate that after being wed for less than five months, Bright filed for divorce in August, citing a loss of shared interests and mutual support, as per court documents. Bright was said to be without employment, while Takaki-Bright worked at a local educational institution.
Bright’s own mother filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) against him earlier this year after he allegedly threatened her and her husband, KHNL reports. Prosecutors said Bright allegedly pointed a gun at the couple and hit his mom over the head with it. In her TRO request, Bright’s mother said he allegedly suffers from depression.
Bright, who has not posted bail, remained behind bars Wednesday.
