Background: News footage of one of the scenes where John Nihipali allegedly stabbed a woman (KHON). Inset: John Nihipali (Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation).
A man from Hawaii, accused of leaving his work-release program to fatally stab his girlfriend and attack his estranged wife, has been apprehended once more.
John Nihipali, aged 55, faces charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. According to police reports, he attacked his 53-year-old estranged wife and his girlfriend, also 53, who later succumbed to her injuries. The Honolulu Police Department announced Nihipali’s arrest on Friday, revealing that their investigation into the dual stabbings, which occurred in separate towns, uncovered that both women had connections to Nihipali.
Local news outlet KHON, associated with Fox, reported that the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation verified Nihipali’s status as an inmate at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, serving time for a previous second-degree assault. During the alleged attacks, Nihipali was participating in a work furlough program, temporarily released under a resocialization pass.
Police in Honolulu arrested Nihipali outside his estranged wife’s residence in Kapolei, Hawaii, following a stabbing report at 4:15 p.m. on Friday. Authorities had to subdue him before making the arrest. Their investigation revealed that Nihipali had stabbed his estranged wife in the neck, but a 30-year-old man intervened. The wife managed to flee and contact emergency services.
Approximately an hour later, at 5:30 p.m., police responded to a call about an unresponsive woman at a McCully, Hawaii, residence. Initially considered an unattended death, further examination revealed multiple stab wounds, including defensive injuries on her hands. Investigators identified that the woman’s boyfriend was part of a work furlough program and monitored via an ankle bracelet.
Authorities discovered the girlfriend’s vehicle parked at Nihipali’s estranged wife’s home. Surveillance footage captured Nihipali entering his girlfriend’s McCully home around 10:30 a.m. and leaving by 2:45 p.m. He allegedly used her vehicle to travel to his estranged wife’s residence in Kapolei, arriving there just before 4 p.m.
HPD homicide Lt. Deena Thoemmes said during a press conference Friday that Nihipali’s estranged wife was still hospitalized but improving.
KHON reported that Nihipali was serving a 25-year sentence for second-degree assault; the victim in that case was his estranged wife.
Nihipali was charged on Saturday with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, burglary, and escape. He is in custody and being held without bail. His next court date was not made available.
