Devastating Loss: Hawaiian Influencer & Mother Shot And Killed In Front Of Daughter

A Hawaii mom and social media influencer was shot in the head and killed by her estranged husband in front of her young daughter on Friday.

Theresa Cachuela, 33, was killed at Pearlridge Center in Honolulu when she and her daughter were heading to the bank.

According to reports, Jason Cachuela, 44, approached his estranged wife at the shopping center and shot her. Jason was later found dead from an apparent suicide.

The mother of three was the owner of House of Glam Hawaii LLC in Waipahu and had more than 20,000 followers on Instagram where she often posted about her religious beliefs.

On Dec. 8, just weeks before the fatal shooting, Theresa filed the initial temporary restraining order, and three days later, officers served Jason with it.

According to PEOPLE, the petition stated that Theresa said Jason threatened suicide while her children were present and later held a knife to his own neck. After a wellness check, Jason once again showed up at her house and hid in the garage.

As part of the one-year protection order, Jason surrendered his five registered firearms.

"This was not a random act, as the victim and suspect were involved in a relationship, HPD Lt. Deena Thoemmes said on Friday before Jason was found dead, according to the Hawaii Tribune. "We do know that there was a TRO [temporary restraining order] that was served on him, which is why this case was classified as murder in the first degree."

Theresa's mother, Lucita Ani-Nihoa, told Hawaii News Now that Theresa's youngest daughter witnessed her mother's murder.

"Her youngest daughter is the one that tragically saw everything. She's traumatized. She has so much faith, this little girl. She just...started praying," Ani-Nihoa said. "She doesn't believe it. She doesn't believe her mom is gone. I don't believe it."

Ani-Nihola also revealed that her daughter recently filed for divorce.

"She wanted to leave him but he wasn’t accepting it," she said. "He tried to control her with, with everything ... where she would go what she would do."

Ani-Nihoa said her daughter tried to tell police about all the issues going on and about the "gun that he pulled on her a couple of times already," adding that "he threatened to kill her."

"They never arrested him, knowing that he had guns, knowing that he tried to threaten, he threatened to kill the kids and her in her own garage," she continued. "The court wasn't there for her."

Ani-Nihoa started a GoFundMe page to raise the money needed to give her daughter the memorial she deserves.

"My name is Lucita and I am the mother of Theresa Numera Johnston Ani (Cachuela). As you all may know, my daughter who we call “Tita,” was shot and murdered on Dec. 22, 2023 at the Bank of Hawaii parking lot," the description on the page begins.

"She was coming to have breakfast with me that morning because I wanted to give her and my grandkids their Christmas gifts. My daughter did not deserve this. She was trying so hard to get help, but the Justice system failed her. We are so devastated by the loss of our beloved Tita. This has been so difficult for our family in which we were not prepared for."

The description continues to explain that the family needs financial help to cover funeral expenses and to give Theresa "the memorial she deserves to honor her memory and say our last goodbyes."

In just three days, the GoFundMe has already received more than $39,000 from 856 donors, far exceeding the family's goal of $20,000.

Many of Theresa's Instagram followers have left messages of shock and condolences on her most recent posts.

"You’re so beautiful 😔 rest in love girl! I’m praying so hard for you babies ❤️," one person wrote. Another added, "RIL beautiful. Your genuine soul will never be forgotten. Praying so hard for your babies 🙏🏼."