PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Family members and friends gathered Saturday to hold a candlelight vigil for a woman found dead inside her car last week in Southeast Portland.
The body of Jaquona Lakaya Goggans was found inside a vehicle on February 7 in a parking lot in the 13500 block of SE Division Street. Crime scene tape was seen around the parking lot of Foxy’s Den Eatery.
How she died was not released and Portland police are still calling the death of the 43-year-old woman “suspicious.”
At the vigil on Saturday, Goggans’ mother, Annette Campbell, told KOIN 6 News her daughter’s body was found inside of the car’s trunk.
Officials have not confirmed that.
Remembering Jaquona
Family and friends gathered in a parking lot to pray over the spot where Goggans’ body was found. Campbell said her daughter had been missing for about 2 to 3 weeks before she was discovered in her car near the Southeast Christian Center and Foxy’s Den.
“Put my baby in the trunk?” said a heartbroken Campbell to whomever she thinks was involved in her daughter’s death. “Did whatever you did to her and then put her in a trunk like she’s a piece of trash. Oh no, Lord, no.”
Goggans’ cousin Laurie Palmer helped organize the vigil. She said Goggans leaves behind 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
“I don’t know if she took her last breath here or what,” said Palmer. “But this is where they found her body we just want to come here and just honor that space; honor the family and have some closure.”
The family is urging anyone who knows anything about Goggans’ death to come forward.
“You know, whoever did this, think about if it was one of your kids, you wouldn’t be okay with this,” said Campbell. “You’ve took a life from our family, you took a life and you hurt my family, my whole family — no. You’re going to get caught.”
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call Detective William Winters at 503.823.0466.
