TUCSON: Homeless Woman Murdered

Homeless woman found slain in pool of blood downtown

DAVID L. TEIBEL
Published: 06.13.2007

The body of a homeless woman was found this morning lying in a pool of blood behind a downtown law office.

Detective Sgt. Kevin Hall said police are classifying the death as a homicide. He would not say how she was killed. Earlier police had called the death "suspicious," but were not certain the woman had been slain.

For at least 15 years the woman was allowed to sleep behind the office and was regularly seen by workers in the building at 405 W. Franklin St., in Barrio Presidio, said Elizabeth Bingham, a legal assistant to one of some 10 attorneys who share office space in the building.

Bingham said the woman, known as "Sunshine," usually was gone by 8 a.m.
Tuesday morning, about 7:35 a.m., Tracey Hansen, a paralegal for another attorney in the building, said she looked out a door leading outside from a conference room and spotted the homeless woman lying on a wheelchair ramp, apparently not breathing, with a pool of blood around her head.

Paramedics were called, but the woman was dead.

Police have taped off the building with crime-scene tape and office workers are not being allowed to leave in order to protect a potential crime scene, Bingham said.
"She didn't deserve it, she was a nice lady," Bingham said, adding, "she would just sleep out in the open there."

Said Hansen, "She just kind of minded her own business and planted flowers in the front of our building."

Bingham estimated the homeless woman was in her 60s. Neither Hansen or Bingham knew of any trouble "Sunshine" had been having with anyone.

Sgt. Decio Hopffer said the woman has been tentatively identified. Her name will be withheld until it is confirmed and family has been told of her death, Hopffer said.
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