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Montavilla community grieves former tattoo artist, victim in Forest Grove DV murders

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News and Commentary

Community Grieves After Fatal Domestic Violence Incident

A community in Montavilla and the wider Portland area is grieving after a domestic violence incident this weekend outside Forest Grove resulted in five deaths. Among those killed was 60-year-old Rowan Kimsey, a former local tattoo artist known in the Montavilla neighborhood as “Lucky Mermaid Tattoo.”

Also among the victims were Rowan’s mother, Mary, her daughter Stella, and friends Lindsey Haraldson and Alvin Chew—meaning three generations of women from the Kimsey family were lost.

Remembering Rowan Kimsey

Reporters and community members emphasized Rowan’s role as both an artist and a caregiver. Near her memorial—flowers and notes outside a local salon owned by a friend—neighbors described her as:

  • Full of life
  • Someone who made the community better
  • A person who contributed through both artistic work and personal support

A former housemate and collaborator, Laura Richards, said Rowan tattooed for nearly a decade and created a wide range of designs, with a particular affinity for:

  • Mermaids
  • Honoring women

Richards added that Rowan later stopped tattooing due to health issues and shifted to home health care, but her artwork remained visible in local places tied to her—both personal and community-facing.

Themes in Coverage: Character and Personal Impact

A major theme in the coverage is the personal impact of the loss and the way Rowan’s character is remembered by those who knew her. Friends and neighbors described her as:

  • Listening deeply
  • Being gentle
  • Not wanting others to remain angry or sad indefinitely

Richards also relayed a message attributed to Rowan’s daughter, saying Rowan would not have held a grudge and would have wanted people to have grace, particularly given the mental health struggles surrounding the tragedy.

Suspect’s Death

Authorities reported that the suspect, 36-year-old Benjamin Parker, died by suicide in Washington.

Presenters / Contributors (Referenced)

  • Julia Lopez (Fox 12 Oregon)
  • Laura Richards
  • Alexis (referenced via Richards’s remarks)
  • Officials (unnamed)
  • Benjamin Parker (suspect; referenced in reporting)
  • Rowan Kimsey family members: Mary Kimsey, Stella Kimsey, Lindsey Haraldson, Alvin Chew

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