Girlfriend of slain taxi driver describes ‘agonising’ wait for murder charges against JBLM soldiers

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – This week, the U.S. Army filed charges against JBLM Soldier Private Jonathan Lee in connection with the death of Nick Hokema.

It’s been almost five months since Nicole Sharkody lost the love of her life, her boyfriend Nick Hokema.

“The worst part is at night when everyone goes to bed and I go to bed and it’s just me,” Sharkody said. The wheels of justice are starting to turn after the Army filed charges in connection with Hokema’s murder.

“The wait for the evidence and the whole process of making sure everything is absolutely airtight when it comes to catching this guy was so slow and agonizing,” Sharkody said.

Hokema was working as a taxi driver when he was found murdered in the parking lot of the SouthCenter Mall in Tukwila on January 15. His taxi was also stolen.

The Army said Private Lee was last seen at the base the previous day, Jan. 14, and deserted his post while on trial for child sex offenses. He was convicted at a court-martial on Jan. 19, 2024, while he was still missing.

The Army found Lee on January 26, took him into custody, and is serving a 64-year prison sentence for sexual assault.

Sharkody is angry that Lee was able to leave the base.

“I’m getting angrier again. I’m trying to deal with it constructively, but I just don’t like it, I hate it. It doesn’t feel like my life anymore,” Sharkody said.

The military does not have a bail system, and a retired military judge told KING 5 that Lee was not considered a threat to the community in this case and was not taken into custody.

“I don’t think whoever ultimately allowed this to happen should ever be responsible for anything or anyone again. You can’t repeat something like this,” Sharkody said.

Although Hokema’s killing did not occur on base, the case is being handled by the military. The Army said seven charges have been filed against Private Lee and released this statement on the legal proceedings against Lee.

“The charges are essentially the premeditated murder of Nicholas F. Hokema, robbery, resisting arrest, desertion, unlawful use of a controlled substance, and two counts of failure to obey a lawful order in violation of Articles 118, 85, 87a, 112a, and 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The charges are merely allegations, and Lee is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

“Ideally, I would support the death penalty for this because I would like to be there, but if it had to be life without parole, I would accept that,” Sharkody said.

Sharkody not only wants justice, but also systematic change so that something like this never happens to anyone again.

“I love Nick so much and I still do. Nothing has changed at all,” Sharkody said.

The next step in Lee’s case is for a neutral official to be appointed to conduct a preliminary hearing.