A woman’s body was discovered inside a duffle bag at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on Sunday evening. The victim has been identified as 37-year-old Kelly (Broke) Koike, a resident of San Francisco. Koike’s mother, Roya, spoke with reporters and revealed that her daughter was unhoused and had been living on the streets of San Francisco. She also disclosed that Koike suffered from a mental illness and had a lifelong passion for makeup and design.
According to Roya, her daughter’s mental challenges began in her teens and eventually overtook her life. Despite graduating from culinary school and working as a concierge in San Francisco, Koike’s mental health issues prevented her from maintaining stability. Roya expressed her concerns for her daughter’s safety while living on the streets and also revealed her own fears for her safety when Koike was at home and not on medication.
The discovery of Koike’s body was made by a dog walker, and police are treating her death as suspicious. Investigators worked late into the night on Sunday at Golden Gate Park but have not made any arrests thus far. The area surrounding 22nd Avenue and Fulton, where the body was found, was quiet on Monday morning.
Golden Gate Park had recently hosted the Outside Lands festival, attracting tens-of-thousands of attendees. The grisly discovery was made about a mile away from the festival grounds. Neighbors expressed shock and sadness over the incident, with one resident stating that the neighborhood is not typically associated with such incidents.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has launched an active homicide investigation into Koike’s death. They have urged anyone with information to come forward and contact the SFPD 24-hour Tip Line or Text a Tip to TIP411, beginning the message with SFPD.
Despite the shocking incident, individuals who frequent the area have stated that they still feel safe, emphasizing that isolated incidents should not limit the freedom and enjoyment of the park.
What are the key profiles and characteristics that are typically associated with perpetrators of violent crimes like the murder of Kelly in Golden Gate Park?
A 37-year-old woman named Kelly has been identified as the victim after her body was found inside a duffle bag at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on Sunday evening.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. My thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time.