In a shocking incident in Hawaii, Instagram influencer Theresa Cachuela, 33, was fatally shot by her husband just two days after she had successfully obtained a restraining order against him. The devastating event occurred in a parking garage near Pearlridge Center in Honolulu, tragically unfolding in front of her 11-year-old daughter.
Known as Bunny Bontiti to her 20,000 Instagram followers, Cachuela was a model and beauty entrepreneur who often shared posts about her Christian faith. The authorities identified her husband, 44-year-old Jason Cachuela, as the perpetrator. He was later found deceased in an apparent suicide near a residence in Waipahu.
Court documents reviewed by The Independent revealed that Ms. Cachuela had filed for a restraining order shortly before Christmas, citing instances of domestic abuse, which Mr. Cachuela denied. In her court petition, she expressed her intention to protect herself and her children and hoped to get her husband the help he needed.
Ms. Cachuela recounted instances of her husband’s refusal to leave her alone, including threats of suicide and breaking into her garage to hide under her car. She also told her family that he was tracking her through her phone and a GPS device in her vehicle, as reported by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Her family, speaking to local broadcaster KHON-2, criticized the system for not providing adequate protection. Her father, Stephen Johnston, lamented the failure of the police and legal system to safeguard her. He urged fathers to educate their sons on respecting women. Kathleen Johnston, Ms. Cachuela’s aunt, called for legal reforms to prevent such tragedies.
A GoFundMe page has been established by her mother, Lucita Ani-Nihoa, to help with funeral expenses. Ms. Ani-Nihoa expressed her grief, stating that her daughter was on her way to breakfast and exchange Christmas gifts with her when the incident occurred. She criticized the justice system for failing to protect her daughter, who was earnestly seeking help.