Just out., September 07, 2001, Image 1

OR . C O L L .
HQ
75
Hate in Hillsboro
Trans woman’s slaying
is the first homicide to
he classified as a bias crime
in Washington County
by J im
■
R adosta
■
A
farmer found the body of a 28-year-
old trans woman about 7:50 a.m.
Aug. 26 in a field on Southwest
Farmington Road near Hillsboro. It
is the first homicide to be classified
as a bias crime in Washington County.
Loni Kai Okaruru was bom Lorenzo
Igisair Okaruru on Feb. 27, 1973. A native
of Saipan in the
South Pacific, she
moved to the United
States in 1997.
Okaruru was last
seen about 3:30 a.m.
Aug. 26 in the area of
Tualatin Valley
Highway and
Southwest 141st
Avenue. She was
contacted by a Beaverton police officer, who
confirmed she was fine at the time.
The Oregon State Medical Examiners
Office performed an autopsy Aug. 27. The
cause of death was determined to be severe
blunt force trauma to the head.
According to Washington County
Sheriffs Detective Michael O ’Connell,
investigators think a driver offered Okaruru
a ride under the assumption that she was a
woman but became angered upon learning
otherwise. He said this had happened at
least once in the victim s past.
Continued on Page 13
A
candlelight vigil will honor Loni Okaruru
7 p m. Sept. 14 at Pioneer Courthouse
Square. It will include personal remembrances
and expressions of support and concern from
community advocates and civic leaders.
A committee of human rights activists are
planning the event. The supporting organiza­
tions are Basic Rights Oregon, the Coalition
Against Hate Crimes, Metropolitan Human
Rights Center, Pride Northwest and It’s Time,
Oregon!
For more information call 503-222-6/51
or 503-823-5542 or send e-mail to
transgal@yahoo. com.
‘F inding
apath
tfiat embraces spirit a n d fíes (i
by
iW
A ndy S imon
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