OR Loni Kai, 28, TransWoman,beaten and left in field, 26 Aug 2001

[dotr]

Oregon killing of transgendered woman unsolved 8 years later
"HILLSBORO -- Sgt. Mike O'Connell is waiting for a clue. A tip. A missing piece.

For eight years, the Washington County Sheriff's detective has been investigating the county's only known hate-crime killing.

On Aug. 26, 2001, the body of Lorenzo Okaruru, also known as Loni Kai, was found in a field near Southwest Farmington and Rood Bridge roads. Okaruru was biologically male but lived as a woman.

O'Connell said the killing was vicious; she had been beaten on the head with some type of metal instrument. Investigators believe her transgender identity was a factor in the killing."

"About 2 a.m. the day her body was found, Okaruru was seen talking to a woman at the 7-Eleven near Southwest TV Highway and Cornelius Pass Road. Later, she was seen hitchhiking along the highway near Southwest Murray Boulevard. At 3:30a.m., a Beaverton police officer talked to her near the highway to see if she needed help, but she declined. Her body was found about 8 a.m.

Detectives suspect that someone picked her up and became enraged after realizing she was biologically male. They believe a small or mid-sized SUV was used and that two people were needed to move her body into the field."

 

[dotr]

Cold case: Transgender woman’s killing is one of few unsolved hate crimes in Washington County
October 11, 2018

• 
• "WASHINGTON COUNTY, OR (KPTV) - A now-retired Washington County sheriff’s detective, Murray Rau, has not forgotten a 17-year-old case. He also has not lost hope that the killer will be found."

"Detectives know Loni went to a Beaverton 7-Eleven, and even spoke with two Beaverton police officers who saw her walking along Tualatin Valley Highway just hours before the jogger discovered her body.

“It's just such a small window of time, and to not know, have not been able to narrow it down, figure out who was that person who had last had contact with Loni, you know,” Rau said. “There's probably someone out there who has some information, has heard something about this case beyond what's been previously reported.”

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Loni was at the Golden Fountain lounge on SW Canyon Road that evening. Later, she was walking along TV Highway near Murray Boulevard. Around 2:00 a.m., Loni was seen talking to a woman at the 7-Eleven near Tualatin Valley Highway and Cornelius Pass Road. At 3:30 a.m., a Beaverton Police Officer contacted Loni near 141st Avenue and Tualatin Valley Highway.
Detectives worked many tips in this case, and desperately want to solve it. They speculate that someone who thought he was picking up a woman became enraged to find otherwise and killed Loni. They believe the person likely had to call someone to help move her body. A medium sized SUV may have been present when the body was taken to the field. There may have been some blood involved in this case.
A $4,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. If you have any information, please contact Detectives at (503) 846-2594.
https://www.co.washington.or.us/She...igations/upload/Cold-Case-Lorenzo-Okaruru.pdf

 

[imstilla.grandma]

If you have any information about this or any Cold Case, please contact Sheriff’s Office Detectives at (503) 846-2500 or via e-mail to sheriff.web@co.washington.or.us. In the meantime, you can help by sharing this article with anyone you know who might know about the Loni Kai (Lorenzo Okaruru) case from 2001.
CAN YOU HELP: Loni Kai - Unsolved Murder - Hazeldale, OR

 

[dotr]

Just in case there is a connection, also posted this thread on one concerning the possible serial murders of AA trans women in Florida. fwiw, imo, speculation.
FL - Is a serial killer stalking Florida trans women?