[UPDATED with Victim Reported a New Mom:] Newport Beach Police Seek Answers in 'Suspicious Death' of Prostitute Tina Hoang

[UPDATED with Victim Reported a New Mom:] Newport Beach Police Seek Answers in "Suspicious Death" of Prostitute Tina Hoang

By Matt Coker Fri., Mar. 8 2013 at 1:37 PM

See the Update No. 3 at the end of page 2 with a friend and lawyer of the victim reportedly saying she had a baby in January and was trying to leave prostitution behind.

See Update No. 2 on page 2 with the victim's multiple prostitution arrests and Update No. 1 on the next page with the victim's I.D.

Ben Behunin

ORIGINAL POST, MARCH 6, 1:02 P.M.: The Newport Beach Police Department is reaching out to the public for answers as to how a woman in her 20s with an Asian background wound up face down and dead on sand near lifeguard tower No. 71 near West Ocean Front and Highland Street Monday morning.

She had no visual signs of injury, and police are awaiting a toxicology report from the coroner's office that might shed light on how she died.

According to the police agency's spokeswoman Kathy Lowe, dispatchers received the call around 6 a.m. Monday about a woman down on the beach.

The identification of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, Lowe added.

Anyone with information that can help investigators is asked to call Detective Garrett Fitzgerald at 949.644.3797. Anonymous messages can be left on the Newport Beach Police Department Hotline at 1.800.550.NBPD.

UPDATE NO. 1, MARCH 7, 10:18 A.M.: The Orange County Coroner's Office has identified the woman found dead on the beach as Tina Hoang, 20, of Bellflower.

There is still no cause of death pending autopsy and toxicology results.

The Newport Beach Police Department has released two photos of Hoang in case anyone may have seen her before she wound up on the beach:

Photos courtesy of Newport Beach Police Department

Tina Hoang last September

Hoang in February

We Recommend

DonkeyHotay topcommenter

HipTip -- Neck or Face tattoos = Life Fail!

psychofish

On page 2, the "gold" picture, I like the Vulcan look!

If only happy events were in reverse order: going to college to study business and fashion (and finishing degree), and then having a baby (after getting married). Her lawyer said she was kind and respectful. It was a long train wreck, but it was her train and her life to live - whoever did this needs to be found and put away.

seriously

What makes you think she wasnt brought there by one of her high dollar clients, right there, in Newport Beach? Really. I've heard of city councilmen signing off on questionable permits, to later be seen in broad daylight at the park in their car receiving oral "favors". Maybe she was filming at that porn house on the sand down there in the numbered streets. Maybe she just got done filming at the Pelican Hills upscale "facility." How could this have ever happened in such an accountable town? Something is stank here, and it isnt just the sewage at the river jetties.

Cottonwood topcommenter

It was probably retaliation by her pimp for trying to leave. And to intimidate the other girls. The police should find out who her pimp was. He's probably back in Florida by now.

Cottonwood topcommenter

1 Like

KTLA's reporter said that her death was upsetting to the people who live along the beach. One of the residents was disgusted. He said, "People come here to relax and chill, not to find somebody dead on the beach."

So, I guess that it was outrageous of her to have died on that beach.

And they showed what the reporter called, "provocative pictures" of her. The poor girl is dead. Seems smarmy of the news to speak disgustedly about her.

Cottonwood topcommenter

Her pimp probably had something to do with it.

rpmcestmoi

You people are beyond belief. No, I rescind that. You are disgusting animals.

Crime-iny
is your preferred headline/section head for what is a tragedy. What else can this loss of a young life to any cause be? A tragedy. Losing life is just that.

There is likely a very sad story of parental and social neglect, possibly addiction, certainly exploitation behind this young woman's death.

Those who take a salary or a free-lance fee of an inconsequential amount to contribute to a mechanism to spread flippancy over the death of a person are to be ashamed.

The world is a difficult place but it is only made more difficult and ugly by the likes of you.

MatthewTCoker topcommenter

3 Like

@rpmcestmoi Crime-iny is our category for crime or, in this case, a "suspicious death." If and when it's deemed a homicide, the 2013 homicide category will be added. Highlights magazine has some category names more suited to your sensibilities.