Victim of June homicide in Washington park identified as 15-year-old runaway

Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian By Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian The Oregonian
on October 29, 2012 at 1:04 PM, updated October 29, 2012 at 1:12 PM


Four months after her body was found in Washington Park, Portland police Monday announced they have identified the homicide victim as a 15-year-old runaway from San Diego.

Mayra_Cruz.jpgMayra Sophia Cruz Rodriguez Portland Police Bureau

She was identified as Mayra Sophia Cruz Rodriguez through dental records after assistance from Clark County Sheriff's Det. Kevin Schmidt, who had spotted a composite sketch of the unidentified victim that Portland police distributed to law enforcement agencies.

Homicide detectives learned that the 15-year-old girl from San Diego County had been visiting relatives in Vancouver when she was reported as a runaway on June 15.

Mark D. Beebout, a homeless man and registered sex offender, has been indicted in Rodriguez's murder – one of two homicides prosecutors have tied him to this year.

On Aug. 21, Beebout pleaded not guilty to nine counts of aggravated murder and one count each of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse in connection with the Washington Park homicide.

The girl's body was discovered June 26 just west of the Vista Bridge off Southwest Jefferson Street. It appeared that she had been living on the street only recently and probably wasn't from Portland, police said at the time. Beebout was tied to her death through DNA.

Beebout also is accused of killing Nikayla Powell, who had met him at a downtown Portland ministry and let him stay at her apartment. In Powell's death, Beebout has pleaded not guilty to six counts of aggravated murder and one count each of first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and unauthorized use of a vehicle in connection with Powell's death.

Jane_Doe_Sketch.jpgPortland police sketch of victim Portland Police Bureau

On July 10, a maintenance man found Powell's severely decomposed body beneath a sheet on the top bunk of a bed in her Southeast Belmont Street apartment after neighbors complained about a foul smell coming from her unit, court records said. Powell's death may have occurred as early as July 4, investigators said.

The Police Bureau Monday thanked the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office, the Oregon State Forensic Laboratory, the Clark County Sheriff's Office, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and other agencies who helped distribute the sketch they developed of the Washington Park victim.

Portland detectives are seeking any additional information the public may have regarding Rodriguez and or her connection to Beebout.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detectives Molly Daul at (503) 823-0991 or Rico Beniga at (503) 823-0457.
 
--Maxine Bernstein

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