Message to killer: 'Who you are will be forgotten'
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PORTLAND, Ore. – The man who killed a woman and a teenage girl showed no remorse Thursday when he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The families of the victims had the agonizing experience of addressing Mark Beebout, who was arrested last summer for killing 32-year-old Nikayla Powell and 15-year-old Mayra Cruz-Rodriguez. He pleaded guilty to the murders last month.
Powell was found dead in her Southeast Portland apartment days after she was murdered in July 2012. Her father told KATU News she loved the outdoors and dancing.
She volunteered at Operation Nightwatch, an organization catering to the homeless out of a church. That's where she met Beebout and invited him to be her roommate.
On Thursday, Powell's father put his anger into words that were read by the prosecutor: "You held information hostage in exchange for dropping additional counts of murder and sexual assault in accepting your plea because you were afraid of what your new roommates would do to you if they knew. I exclaimed, 'Do I hear a violin?' I'm quite confident the knowledge of your crimes are already well known where you are going."
Beebout had a criminal past. He did time in Illinois for theft. In California he was convicted of sexually abusing a 14-year-old. In June he met Cruz-Rodriguez, a runaway. He left her body in Portland's Washington Park.
In court her family wept, and through an interpreter they conveyed their loss.
Beebout's former girlfriend, Amy Lewis, spoke about her survival and his two victims.
"What you've done and who you hurt will always be remembered, but you most certainly won't be. Who you are will be forgotten," she said.
Beebout didn't say anything when he had his chance to speak.
He is trying to legally change his name to Yunos Mohammed.
I wish I could forget this scumbagâ¦.. Every time I see his picture on hear I just think of all the times I played Monopoly with him at night watch and Nikayla Powellâs wonderful smile and glow and Iâm just sick to my stomachâ¦â¦.
@1984isnow I wish I had the right thing to say to you, but, sadly, I don't.  Let her glow embrace you and how you approach life and the people you meet.  Don't let his anger and hatred shadow her light.  Thus... her spirit will live on through you and your actions.
R. I. P. (rot in prison) you low-life POS. I hope someone in there does to you what you did to those women.
There's a secret 10th circle of hell reserved just for folks like you. The suffering, pain and terror of your victims will be grafted into your soul for all eternity. Enjoy, cowardly dog.
Mr. Powell, I admire your strength and restraint. Â And to the friends and families of the victims -- I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. Â Remember, you are not alone.
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@Dr. Rawdog I'm failing to see the humor or point in your comment.
@James Gnau @Dr. Rawdog  You must be even older than me.  It's kind of a reference to DJs (in your day, 'disk jockeys')...hip hop...never mind.  It was funny.  New forum mommy?
@Pvpbw @James Gnau @Dr. Rawdog I don't know how old you are, but it's possible I was there when dirt was being formed.  Right now I'm stuck on all the pro-death penalty people who weren't even old enough to vote 30 years ago when it was passed.  Time for a new vote, IMO.  Yeah, James is a little OTR this morning.
@Sundowner @James Gnau @Dr. Rawdog I thhink James must needs a bit more coffee, I will buy a cup and send it over. In the meantime, must you make age references that make me feel my age. at least do it after lunch. I did catch myself saying back in the day a few days a go
Cool, bro. He's trying to convert to Islam? Yunos Mohammed? Can we send him somewhere that's still down with Sharia law? I mean, he's already down a hand for that theft charge...Â
@UnitedAndFreeÂ
Unfortunately under Sharia law it's okay to rape and kill women.
My heart goes out to the family of the victims. This coward stole their greatest treasure and can never make restitution for his heinous crimes. He should be forgotten, but his victims should not. The real story here is a brave woman who worked hard to help others less fortunate and lost her life for it. To the families of the victims, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Two things I think most of us here can agree.
1. Stop showing his name and his photo. Â This person is to be forgotten. Â Whenever this crime is talked about, it will be in the names of the victims and a celebration of their lives.
2. Why will this guy live on my tax dollars? Â I have to believe there are enough liberals in Oregon to agree that this is a waste of oxygen.
He will live on our tax dollars because our state's governor doesn't believe in the death penalty, and even without that yahoo in office we mostly fail to execute those who deserve the death penalty.
And our "representatives" spend time worrying about raising more taxes and taking away our constitutional rights instead of making sure predators are put down like the animals they are.Does that answer your question?
We seem to be surrounded with predators. So many I sometimes forget to keep perspective. Whobeke below says he doesn't help the homeless because there's too many crazies. I try to keep focused on the rest of the 99% of the people that are good. That care. That reach out to others. I refuse to stop seeing the people that don't kill, rape, rob... If you stop seeing the good, the only thing left is the bad. I agree with the quote above
" Who you are will be forgotten"Â Â
I'd add.. What you've done won't stop me from helping others. Even if I may unknowingly be placing myself at risk.
 No individual should have the power or ability to change who we are merely by their heinous acts against society. No innocent person should be judged by the foul actions of another. As soon as this story fizzles out, I'll have forgotten this filth. In fact, I don't even recall his name.
That said, I hope his life sentence is truly life. And, short lived.
@Lips Well said Lips. As atrocious and unspeakable as this coward's crimes are we cannot overlook those who are good and decent in this world nor use it as an excuse to not get involved in our communities and help those less fortunate. You words invite all who are good and hope for good in this life to stay involved.
That is, he was sentenced to life without parole, to last until -- in order to save money for more important things like teaching tree-hugging -- he's released after about 18 months, on his own recognizance, for "good behavior."
That's why I never help the homeless or volunteer with agencies whose mission includes the homeless in any manner - there are just too many violent crazies within that population. The homeless need to clean up their act and clean out their ranks if they want help.
@Whobeke @Dr. Rawdog You are soooo spot-on!  "The homeless need to clean up their act and clean out their ranks..."?  Yeah -- they need to s**t, shower and shave, head over to the Men's Warehouse and buy a couple of suits (along with an Armani shirt or two and throw in a couple of ties), put a nice down-payment on a 3-bedroom bungalow in NE and then call a meeting of their 'ranks', elect a board of directors.....
Anybody convicted of a felony should never be allowed to change their name. Period. The world should have the right to know who the criminals are. Even though this guy will never get out of prison, he should be forever saddled with the name he had when he took two innocent lives. Of course I suspect some in prison will have a different name for him ... B**ch.
"He is trying to legally change his name to Yunos Mohammed."
He should change his name to Yunos I'mscum.