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December 7, 2011
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Bouquets, Balloons for Yashanee
Murdered teen
remembered
on her 15th
birthday
by M indy C< x > per
•
T he P ortland O bserver
Bouquets of red roses and bal
loons d eco rated a spot along
'CWOIÇUSS
Northeast Rocky Butte Road Sun
day after family, friends and m em
bers of the com m unity gathered
to rem em ber and celebrate what
w o u ld h a v e b e en Y a sh a n e e
V aughn’s 15th birthday.
The Portland girl’s body was dis
covered on Rocky Butte last June
after she went missing four months
earlier. Her 16-year-old boyfriend
Parrish Bennette Jr. is charged with
her murder and is in jail awaiting
trial.
“Today is Yashanee’s birthday,”
said her grandm other Reynelda
Hayes. “It is important to let her
know, and everybody else, she is
very much missed and will never be
forgotten.”
Marsha Hayes, Yashanee’ s great
aunt, circulated a birthday card for
Family, friends and members of the community march along Rocky Butte Road in northeast Portland S l
loved ones to sign.
ebrate the life of teenage murder victim Yashanee Vaughn on what would have been her 15th birthday.
“We just don’t ever want her
memory to die,” she said. “She is
Taja’Mar Hepburn, 14,saidhemet
gether up the hill to the site where said, “Thank you for still support
gone, but we want her legacy to Yashanee through a friend, and then
Vaughn’s body was found.
ing our family and still riding the
continue forever.”
found out later they were cousins.
“They still remember Yashanee, rollercoaster with us. It has been a
Hayes said she and her family
“She was funny and had a good
and they still love her,” said Louis, hard ride.”
come to visit the site as often as sense of humor,” he said. “She had
thankful for all the support she has
For Yashanee Vaughn family
every month.
a very exuberant and creative per
received.
updates and information on the
“Sometimes it is hard to let go,” sonality, and to me, she was gener
Addressing the community, she upcoming trial, visit yashanee.com.
she said. “And sometimes it’s okay ous to the people she was close
not to let go. The grieving process with.”
never ends, and every year we will
The girl’s mother Shaquita Louis
celebrate her birthday.”
wore a shirt with an image of her
T erry F amily
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vH O M E y
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