JBLM deserter, convicted child molester in custody as person of interest in cab driver's murder: source

JBLM deserter 'person of interest' in cab driver's murder: source says

A man who was wanted for military desertion and child molestation was arrested over the weekend. He was missing the same time a cab driver was stabbed to death. Police reportedly have him in custody as a person of interest.

KING COUNTY, Wash. - The vehicle that belonged to a Tumwater cab driver who was murdered, and his body dumped at Southcenter Mall, was located almost two weeks after the homicide investigation began. Police also announced that a person of interest is in custody.

Tukwila Police say 34-year-old Nick Hokema’s body was found with multiple stab wounds in the parking lot on Monday, Jan. 15. On the following Thursday, police reported they were looking for his red Toyota Camry with "RediCab" markings.

On Tuesday morning, the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) announced that the vehicle was recovered in the Redmond Ridge neighborhood on Sunday.

Later in the afternoon, the Tukwila Police Department (TPD) announced that a person of interest in the investigation was already in custody with another agency on charges unrelated to the homicide.

A source told FOX 13 that the person of interest in this case is Jonathan Kang Lee, who was wanted for military desertion and child molestation at the time of the murder.

Lee was last seen at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) on Jan. 14 before he was wanted for deserting.

Lee was convicted and sentenced by a court-martial on a number of unspecified felonies. He is reportedly facing 64 years behind bars for those crimes.

The TPD says it will work closely with the King County Prosecutor's Office during the investigation.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Cab driver killed while working, body dumped in Southcenter Mall parking lot

FOX 13 spoke to the victim’s girlfriend last Saturday, and in a tearful plea, she left a message for whoever was driving around in his car after the murder:

"You don’t know what you took from me," said Nicole Sharkody. "Maybe you’re not involved. Maybe someone gave you the car, but you need to come forward and say something. This is the man I loved, and he’s gone."

Since learning of her boyfriend’s death, Sharkody has been seeking answers.

"I don’t think I’ll ever have closure or resolve," she said.