A killer in Oregon smirked as the family of the cabbie they fatally stabbed spoke in court, showing no remorse for the Easter Sunday tragedy.
Moses J. Lopez, 30, who identifies as transgender, received a 22-year prison sentence on Wednesday for the fatal stabbing of 43-year-old Reese Lawhon, a driver for Radio Cab in Portland.
Portland Cab Driver Fatally Stabbed
MOSCOW, ID - JANUARY 3: Police tape is seen at a home that is the site of a quadruple murder on January 3, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho. A suspect has been arrested for the murders of the four University of Idaho students.
On April 9, 2023, an awful crime happened involving victim Reese Lawhon, a 43-year-old Radio Cab driver, who by mistake took Lopez to the wrong address under a highway overpass in East Portland. Lopez, a certified nursing assistant at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, contacted emergency services for transportation home following a night of socializing in downtown Portland.
Despite being directed to call a cab by the 911 dispatcher, a purported error in the Radio Cab dispatcher's input led Lawhon to the wrong destination. Video evidence from inside the cab revealed Lopez confirming one address but providing a different one upon arrival. As Lawhon attempted to rectify the error, Lopez reached from the backseat and fatally stabbed him, as detailed in a bail memo based on cab camera footage.
A private ambulance crew stationed nearby witnessed Lopez, covered in blood, leaving the cab and dropping a pair of brass knuckles with an attached blade. Lawhon was found dead inside the cab with two stab wounds to his neck.
During the Wednesday sentencing hearing, Lopez refused to accept full responsibility for the murder. While addressing Lawhon's family, Lopez expressed regret without a direct apology, attributing the tragedy to a lack of mental health support and a perceived failure in the system, as per to New York Post.
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Sisters Accept Plea Deal
Lopez, who had previously been arrested for threatening two supermarket employees just days before the fatal incident, faced charges of disorderly conduct, trespassing, and weapons charges. A plea deal was later struck, resulting in the dismissal of these charges in exchange for reduced murder charges.
Lawhon's sisters reluctantly accepted the plea deal, citing a desire to spare their parents additional grief. However, they criticized the proposed deal, asserting that justice had not been served. They expressed a determination to testify against Lopez in the future, anticipating her release in 20 years.
The tragedy has left Lawhon's family and friends haunted by the last moments of his life. Witnesses and colleagues described Lawhon as a kind soul who would have extended help if Lopez had communicated her struggles during the silent cab ride. Darin Campbell, Lawhon's former colleague, condemned Lopez's actions, characterizing her as a "homicidal mentally ill individual" who should never be released.
Many people have offered tribute to Lawhon, who was well-known for his kind personality and musical abilities. The Gladney Center for Adoption established the Reese McDowell Lawhon Scholarship Fund in his memory, emphasizing his influence on the community. Those who knew Lawhon continue grappling with the void left by the loss of a beloved friend and musician as the legal proceedings conclude, according to Daily Mail.
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