YASHANEE LAFACE VAUGHN -14 yo- Portland OR

A young man has been transferred to adult detention as he awaits court action
in connection to the death of Yashanee Vaughn.
A bail hearing is under way for 16-year-old Parrish Bennette.


Parrish Bennette Jr. is lead from the
courtroom where a bail hearing was held Friday.


Police believe he killed the 14-year-old Vaughn, who's been missing since March 19.
Portland Police Detective Mark Slater testified Friday that
Bennette's father told police his son was involved in Vaughn's disappearance.
Subsequently, search warrants were served on Bennette's home.
Investigators found blood evidence they say would be consistent with a homicide in the home.
Vaughn's mother is Shaquita Louis. She told reporters how difficult it was to listen to today's testimony.
What did she do to deserve that -- what was done to her. What did
she do to deserve it? I don't care -- no one deserves to be done like that," she told reporters.
Bennette had been held in juvenile detention, but prosecutors say he's being transferred to adult detention.
He's charged with murder and first-degree manslaughter.
http://www.portlandonline.com/police/pbnotify.cfm?action=ViewContent&content_id=2173

PORTLAND — Prosecutors said in
court Friday that a Portland teenager accused of murder in the death of
his girlfriend acknowledged responsibility, saying in a conversation
with his father that his gun just “went off” and killed the girl.

Authorities say 16-year-old Parrish
Bennette Jr. fatally shot his 14-year-old girlfriend, Yashanee Vaughn,
in mid-March and then hid her body. Vaughn was reported missing by her
mother on March 19 and has not been seen since.

Bennette has pleaded not guilty and has denied confessing to his father.

Multnomah County deputy district attorney
Brian Davidson argued Friday that Bennette should be remain in custody
throughout the trial.

A Portland police detective testifying at
Bennette’s bail hearing said evidence shows that pools of blood soaked
through carpet in the teen’s bedroom.

Portland police Det. Mark Slater said a
forensic search also revealed blood stains on the walls of the room that
appeared in “wiping, swirling patterns,” which he said reflected a
cleanup attempt.

Also found in Bennette’s room and a hall
closet: isopropyl alcohol and bleach, which Slater said were used to try
to clean the traces of blood.

“(Bennette’s) father said he smelled a
strong smell of bleach coming from his son’s room the next day (after
the Vaughn’s disappearance),” Slater testified.

Fluid inside a carpet-cleaning vacuum found in the home also had traces of human blood.

In interviews with homicide detectives,
Bennette said he didn’t know what happened to Vaughn, saying she walked
off toward a light rail train after he bought her dinner at a Taco Bell
on March 19.

But cellphone tower records show activity
from Vaughn’s phone at Bennette’s house at 7:30 p.m. on March 19 — half
an hour after he said she walked to the train.

According to Slater’s testimony: Parrish
Bennette Jr. told his father that the gun went off, killing Vaughn. When
confronted with that information in an interview at the Portland Police
Bureau after Vaughn’s disappearance, Bennette crumpled.

“It was like an instant reaction,” Slater testified. “He said his stomach hurt, and he continued to say it hurt.”

Salter said Bennette denied telling his father that he shot his girlfriend.

Slater said Parrish Bennette Jr. accused
his father of betrayal on the ride home after the interview, according
to Parrish Bennette Sr.’s girlfriend.

During the same conversation, Slater says Bennette told his father, “They won’t go up there. They’ll never find her up there.”

That statement led detectives on an unsuccessful three-day search for Vaughn’s body in the Rocky Butte area of Portland.

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/26450209-41/bennette-vaughn-slater-portland-blood.html.csp

PORTLAND — Prosecutors said in court Friday that a Portland teenager
accused of murder in the death of his girlfriend acknowledged
responsibility, saying in a conversation with his father that his gun
just “went off” and killed the girl.Authorities say 16-year-old
Parrish Bennette Jr. fatally shot his 14-year-old girlfriend, Yashanee
Vaughn, in mid-March and then hid her body. Vaughn was reported missing
by her mother on March 19 and has not been seen since.Bennette has pleaded not guilty and has denied confessing to his father.Multnomah
County deputy district attorney Brian Davidson argued Friday that
Bennette should be remain in custody throughout the trial. Blood stains A
Portland police detective testifying at Bennette’s bail hearing said
evidence shows that pools of blood soaked through carpet in the teen’s
bedroom.Portland police Detective Mark Slater said a forensic
search also revealed blood stains on the walls of the room that appeared
in “wiping, swirling patterns,” which he said reflected a cleanup
attempt.Also found in Bennette’s room and a hall closet:
isopropyl alcohol and bleach, which Slater said were used to try to
clean the traces of blood.“(Bennette’s) father said he smelled a
strong smell of bleach coming from his son’s room the next day (after
the Vaughn’s disappearance),” Slater testified.Fluid inside a carpet-cleaning vacuum found in the home also had traces of human blood.Bennette
walked into the courtroom Friday morning in a sweatshirt and jeans,
shackled at the wrists and ankles. He maintained a tight smile and
looked at the 40 or so people gathered in the courtroom, most of them
family or supporters of Vaughn.When he turned and sat at the defense table, he began to laugh.Deputies
warned spectators to stay calm during the proceedings. One of the men
in the gallery was led out of the courtroom after shouting at Bennette.The testimony Friday morning focused on Bennette’s interviews with detectives and the blood found in his room. Cellphone records In
interviews with homicide detectives, Bennette said he didn’t know what
happened to Vaughn, saying she walked off toward a light rail train
after he bought her dinner at a Taco Bell on March 19.But
cellphone tower records show activity from Vaughn’s phone at Bennette’s
house at 7:30 p.m. on March 19 — half an hour after he said she walked
to the train.According to Slater’s testimony: Parrish Bennette
Jr. told his father that the gun went off, killing Vaughn. When
confronted with that information in an interview at the Portland Police
Bureau after Vaughn’s disappearance, Bennette crumpled.“It was like an instant reaction,” Slater testified. “He said his stomach hurt, and he continued to say it hurt.”Slater said Bennette denied telling his father that he shot his girlfriend.Slater
said Parrish Bennette Jr. accused his father of betrayal on the ride
home after the interview, according to Parrish Bennette Sr.’s
girlfriend. ‘They’ll never find her’ During the same conversation, Slater says Bennette told his father, “They won’t go up there. They’ll never find her up there.”That statement led detectives on an unsuccessful three-day search for Vaughn’s body in the Rocky Butte area of Portland.Vaughn’s
mother, Shaquita Louis, also testified Friday, saying her daughter was
“the life of the crowd,” a girl stuck to her cellphone and Facebook
account.“She was a typical 14-year-old trying to find herself,” she said.http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20110625/NEWS0107/106250355/

Shaquita Louis, whose 14-year-old daughter Yashanee Vaughn has been
missing since March 19, has written a letter to the 16-year-old friend
police say killed her, imploring him to tell authorities what he did
with her body.

Louis says in the letter that she never suspected
that Parrish Bennette Jr., a boy she often welcomed into her own home,
could harm her daughter.

She describes her anguish and tries to
emotionally touch Bennette, noting that he became a parent the day after
police say he killed her child. She says she prays for him and has
asked God to help her forgive him.

Bennette faces first-degree
murder with a firearm and first-degree manslaughter with a firearm in
Vaughn's death. During a bail hearing June 24, a Portland homicide
detective testified that Vaughn's blood was found on the walls and floor
of Bennette's bedroom, but police don't know what happened to her body.
The hearing will continue July 7 to determine whether Bennette should
continue to be held without bail.

Louis also met with Mayor Sam Adams on Thursday, urging him to ensure that police will not stop searching for her daughter.

"There's
two kids that were taken -- my daughter and Parrish," Louis said
Friday. "I hope this will let him know how I feel, that it hits hard,
and he comes forward with information."

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/07/yashanee_vaughns_mother_begs_p.html

Portland police have returned to a hill in northeast Portland in hopes of locating the body of a 14-year-old girl.The
Oregonian newspaper reports that earlier this week, lawyers for a
16-year-old boy charged with murder in the disappearance of Yashanee
Vaughn met with a judge in a settlement conference. Prosecutors met
afterward with the judge but refused to comment.The 16-year-old,
Parrish Bennette Jr., has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with
a firearm and first-degree manslaughter with a firearm. He is being
held without bail.Police spokesman Lt. Robert King said the
search resumed Friday morning. KGW-TV reported 11 police cars and a
forensics truck headed into the park at Rocky Butte about daybreak.The girl was reported missing on March 21.
http://www.mycentraloregon.com/news/state/ap/915035/Portland-police-resume-search-for-teens-body.html

Sources Say Yashanee Vaughn's Remains Have Been Found

UPDATE: 1:50 pm. Our news partner KGW News Channel 8 is reporter
sources say Yashanee Vaughn's remains have been found in the search
area. KXL's Mike Turner is at the scene and will have the very latest
during Portland's Afternoon News 4 to 7pm.



Based on new information, Portland Police are searching the areas of
Rocky Butte for Yashanee Vaughn's body. The teen has been missing since
late March. The homicide investigation is ongoing, so police are not
releasing any more information at this time, but that there will be a
news conference at 11am Friday. The Oregonian reports that the attorneys
for Parrish Bennette Jr., the 16-year-old accused of killing Vaughn,
14, had a private settlement conference Wednesday with Multnomah Circuit
Judge Eric Bergstrom. Prosecutors met privately with the judge
afterwards, but would not comment on the session. Bennette faces
first-degree murder with a firearm and first-degree manslaughter with a
firearm in Vaughn’s death. Police did an extensive search on Rocky Butte
for Vaughn's body in March, but found nothing. Vaughn’s mother,
Shaquita Louis, sent Bennette an open letter on July 3, imploring the
teenager to tell authorities what he did with her daughter’s body.
http://www.kxl.com/kxl-news/Sources-Say-Yashanee-Vaughn-s-Remains-Have-Been-Fo/10365615

The family of 14-year-old Yashanee Vaughn believes
remains recovered at a Portland landmark this weekend are indeed those
of the missing girl. A formal identification is still pending
confirmation from the State Medical Examiner.
Michelle Bart, who speaks for Vaughn’s family,
says the family has had several months to prepare for this moment.
Preparations are being made to convert Vaughn’s search fund to a
memorial fund. Family and friends will spend Sunday afternoon selling
t-shirts, keychains, bracelets, to raise money for funeral expenses. A
vigil is planned for Tuesday night.
Bart and Police Lt. Robert King repeated several times: the full story of Vaughn’s death has yet to be revealled.
“Investigators have been very clear," King told reporters Saturday.
"They believe there are other people who were either involved in some
way, other people who certainly have more information. Investigators
would very much like them to come forward.”
16-year-old suspect Parrish Bennette Jr. remains in custody, charged with aggravated murder and other crimes.
http://news.opb.org/article/vaughn-family-says-remains-believed-those-missing-teen/

Wasn't there a Michelle Bart involved with Caylee's case?

TomTerrific0420 wrote:Wasn't there a Michelle Bart involved with Caylee's case?

Yep Tom she became spokesperson for Cindy and george in November 2008 and went on telly with them to do interviews to say that Caylee was still alive.

kiwimom wrote:

TomTerrific0420 wrote:Wasn't there a Michelle Bart involved with Caylee's case?

Yep Tom she became spokesperson for Cindy and George in November 2008 and went on telly with them to do interviews to say that Caylee was still alive.

---I thought so. Wow! Florida to Oregon and all points in between. Wonder how she gets paid? Professional spokesperson for parents of missing and abducted. Interesting...

Remains found match those of missing Ore. teen

Tuesday, Jul. 19, 2011 - 12:15 pm

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon medical examiner has identified the remains found in a remote area outside Portland last week as those of a missing 14-year-old girl.The Portland Police Bureau says the remains are those of Yashanee Vaughn, who has been missing since March.Portland police say Vaughn was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. The medical examiner's office made the identification through a DNA test.

The district attorney's office has said the discovery resulted from information provided by 16-year-old Parrish Bennette Jr.Bennette
has been charged with murder in the girl's death and is being held
without bail pending trial. Police believe the killing occurred March 19.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/19/3779812/remains-found-match-those-of-missing.html#ixzz1SckSFQOf

Yashanee Vaughn murder trial set for 2012

PORTLAND - A trial date has been set for next summer in the case of a Portland boy accused of shooting his 14-year-old gilfriend to death and hiding her body.
The trial of 16-year-old Parrish Bennette was set for July 10, 2012 and expected to go two-and-a-half weeks Oregon State Medical Examiners said 14-year-old Yashannee Vaughn was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.
Vaughn disappeared in Northeast Portland on March 19 and was reported missing by her mother two days later. Bennette was later arrested for her murder.
Her body was found on a steep Rocky Butte hillside in July. Bennette led police to where the body was, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney.
The District Attorney said no sentencing deal was made for the information. Prosecutors believe Bennette shot Vaughn twice at his home and covered up the crime scene, where her blood showed up in forensic testing.
A gun used in the crime was later handed off to Bennette's friends, police believe.

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Next-summer-trial-for-teen-suspected-of-Yashanee-Vaughn-murder-126794173.html