Sacramento jury convicts man who stabbed sister’s boyfriend more than 32 times
A Sacramento County jury has convicted a man who killed his sister’s boyfriend, who was found with more than 32 stab wounds to his head, neck and chest, prosecutors said.
The jurors on Thursday returned with a guilty verdict for Rafael “Ralph” Yokoi, who was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of the Mark Hamilton, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday in a news release
Yokoi, 44, faces up to 26 years to life in prison. His conviction includes an enhancement for using a knife in the killing.
Yokoi was living with his two sisters around the time of the deadly stabbing. One of his sisters was dating Hamilton, who would often spend the night at their home.
Prosecutors said Hamilton and Yokoi were in a fist-fight on Dec. 9, 2018, and Hamilton was then fearful and believed Yokoi would kill him.
Two days after the fight, Hamilton was found dead in his own home by one of his coworkers, after he failed to show up for work.
Investigators served a search warrant at Yokoi’s home, where they found a knife with features consistent with the stab wounds Hamilton suffered, according to the news release.
The knife had been cleaned, but the District Attorney’s Crime Lab analyzed a leather sheath the knife was found in. Prosecutors said traces of Hamilton’s blood and DNA were found on the knife sheath.
Blood also was found in Yokoi’s sister’s car. Yokoi eventually confessed to killing the victim, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
On Friday afternoon, Yokoi remained in custody at the Sacramento County Jail. His sentencing has been scheduled for March 26.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 4:48 PM.
