In July of 1987, 22-year-old Donna Mae Jokumsen was living in Chandler with her 23-year-old husband Kevin and their two young children. On July 3rd of that year, Donna Mae telephoned her father in Washington State and told him she was returning home to Washington with her children. But after nearly a week, Donna Mae never arrived at her parent’s residence.
Donna Mae’s mother contacted the Chandler Police Department on July 11th, 1987 to report her missing. When officers arrived at the Jokumsen residence, they found Kevin and both children, but Donna Mae was gone. She has not been heard from since.
Donna Mae was last seen on July 5th, 1987.
This incident remained open, but was classified as a missing person case. In 2013, detectives from the Department’s Robbery/ Homicide Unit conducted a thorough review of the original investigation. All living witnesses were re-interviewed and new witnesses, who were either not identified or did not come forward during the original investigation, were interviewed. Coupled with the fact there is no evidence to suggest Donna Mae is still alive, investigators believe Donna Mae died at the hands of Kevin Jokumsen.
In 2017, the case was presented to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office who later presented an indictment against Kevin Jokumsen for the murder of Donna Mae Jokumsen.
On August 31, 2017, Kevin Jokumsen was arrested by the Auburn (Washington) Police Department for one count of second degree murder. Kevin Jokumsen is currently being held in the King County (Washington) Jail awaiting extradition back to Arizona.