Episode 315

Summary

Sword and Scale – Episode 315 Summary

Episode Overview

In this powerful and disturbing episode of "Sword and Scale," the host narrates the tragic and harrowing story of the murder of 13-year-old Malana Lee in the seemingly idyllic community of Beaverton, Oregon. The episode exposes the seedy underbelly of suburbia, following the downward spiral of Daniel Gore, a 16-year-old runaway whose life on the margins culminates in an act of unfathomable violence. Through raw testimony, police interviews, court transcripts, and the host's signature unapologetic commentary, the episode explores themes of alienation, failed systems, media influence, and the devastating consequences of neglect.

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Key Discussion Points and Timeline

1. Setting the Scene: Beaverton's Dual Nature

[00:25–04:34]

• Beaverton is typically viewed as safe and affluent, home to major businesses and picturesque parks (though the host uses sarcastic, dark humor about locals and “dirty hippies”).
• Despite the surface-level tranquility, an unseen homelessness problem festers, with the forests becoming a last resort rather than a haven for many.

"It's not an escape for everyone... For many, the forests of the Pacific Northwest are less a refuge and more of a last resort." – Host [03:09]

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2. Daniel Gore's Descent: Alienation and Homelessness

[04:35–11:26]

• Daniel Gore, a chronically displaced teen, becomes increasingly overwhelmed by instability, isolation at school, and a growing obsession with underground music—particularly trap-metal rapper Seven.
• Eventually, he drops out, runs away, and becomes a fixture at homeless encampments and shopping mall parking lots, stealing food to survive.

"He was pretty obsessed with this artist, ... every post he made he would repost." – Eva, ex-girlfriend [05:49]

• Friends at the AMC theater take pity on Daniel, at times taking him in. He struggles to accept kindness, oscillating between fleeting comfort and isolation as harsh weather and loneliness set in.

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3. The Discovery: Uncovering the Crime

[15:44–18:53]

• On May 10, 2022, Malana Lee’s body is discovered in a shallow creek, covered with a blue blanket weighed down by rocks and logs.
• The scene is meticulously processed, revealing evidence of blunt force trauma, strangulation, and sexual assault.

"The body of a deceased teenage victim was found... Ligature marks were visible on their neck. The face was swollen and bruised." – Host [18:09]
"It actually had been snapped back at the nail bed and it was just kind of hanging." – Detective (on the victim’s fingernail) [18:26]

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4. Malana's Last Day: Digital Forensics and Surveillance

[23:13–27:00]

• Cell phone and social media data reveal Malana's last interactions—a series of Facebook messages with Daniel arranging to meet for drinking with friends (who never arrive).
• Surveillance video captures them together at Menchi’s Frozen Yogurt, then riding city buses, before disappearing into the woods, with Daniel visible in an orange puffer jacket.
• This is the last time Malana is seen alive on camera, just over an hour before her murder.

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5. Detectives Close In: The Suspect's Network and Arrest

[27:46–37:33]

• Police trace Daniel to the home of a friend, where his mud-stained orange jacket and discarded jeans are found.
• Witnesses report Daniel was withdrawn, had unexplained scratches, and made secretive calls (including to his ex, Eva).

"He's calling me and he sounded stressed or upset in some way, and he started telling me that, like, he had done something and he couldn't tell me what it was." – Eva [34:47]

• Intensive police work and community tips locate Daniel at a public library; he briefly evades arrest before being found hiding at a friend's apartment, carrying a white skull mask identical to markings found at the crime scene.

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6. Evidence and Confession Attempts: Interrogation

[41:03–45:39]

• Daniel is interrogated—appearing unemotional, claiming desensitization due to exposure to gore videos online.
• He confesses to drinking with Malana but denies involvement in her death, with implausible explanations for injuries.

"You're pretty, I guess, unemotional. When we give you news that you were the last person seen with someone who is now deceased... there just doesn't seem to be any worry or... it's just kind of this Vlad affect." – Detective [44:04]

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7. Piecing Together the Crime: Brutal Details

[45:45–53:47]

• The host provides a narrative reconstruction: After being rebuffed when making advances, Daniel attacks Malana, beats, strangles, and posthumously rapes her.
• Forensic evidence confirms the horrific brutality, with the medical examiner supporting findings of both strangulation and possible drowning.

"She had been beaten, strangled, and left for dead." – Host [40:02]
"The source of the blood in the vagina was this laceration in the hymen." – Medical Examiner [51:56]
"The horror in this case... evidence that would indicate drowning include that frothy liquid that was coming out of her nose..." – Medical Examiner [53:34]

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8. Aftermath: Arrest, Charges, and Public Outcry

[54:08–56:33]

• Daniel Gore is quickly arrested and charged with first-degree murder and rape.
• Legal debate ensues about whether he’ll be tried as an adult, given Oregon’s 2019 juvenile reform laws; the judge ultimately rules to try him as an adult, emphasizing the heinous and premeditated nature of the crime.

"My granddaughter is gone. ... If he can plan so he can know what he's doing. So of course he has to go to adult as church as adult." – Malana’s grandmother (paraphrased by Eva) [56:07]

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9. Media, Music, and Motive: Influence or Red Herring?

[57:35–64:43]

• The prosecution connects Daniel’s obsession with “dark” music and the skull mask to the murder, though a neuropsychologist testifies artistic content does not predict violent behavior.
• Daniel’s journal ("I feel like Dexter") and internet searches (“girls and homeless people getting raped,” “women being strangled”) further paint a chilling portrait.

"He would draw this artist, and he made himself a copy of the same mask that this artist had... it really didn't feel like it was my boyfriend anymore." – Eva [59:33]

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10. Trial, Verdict, and Sentencing

[65:13–69:18]

• At trial, evidence of Daniel’s calculated actions and post-crime manipulations (e.g., trying to manufacture alibis, impersonating Malana online) is damning.
• Eva testifies about Daniel’s disturbing comments and obsession with “rain washing away footprints.”
• The jury convicts Daniel on all counts after less than 90 minutes.

"He did mention going back and saying that he was gonna go move her." – Eva [67:00]

• The sentencing judge expresses outrage and disbelief, highlighting the series of system-wide failures that enabled Daniel’s violent acts.

"You took that away from Ms. Lee. It is beyond comprehension what you did... this was a failure on so many levels—parenting, the juvenile system, peer groups, the community at large." – Judge [68:08]

• Daniel receives a life sentence—but with parole eligibility after 15 years due to juvenile justice statutes, prompting frustration and a bitterly sarcastic closing monologue from the host.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Daniel’s Isolation:
  "He was more known as the weird goth kid who would randomly scream in class for laughs that were rarely received." – Host [04:39]

• On the Crime Scene:
  "I noticed some red in the water and a blanket. A blue blanket with hair underneath which I had convinced myself was moss." – Eva [16:11]

• On the System:
  "This was a failure on so many levels—parenting, the juvenile system, peer groups, the community at large." – Judge [68:08]

• On Media Influence:
  "While there's been great concern for musical lyrics... it does not predict [violence] at all." – Neuropsychologist [64:43]

• On Justice, or Lack of It:
  "Despite his life sentence... Daniel Gore will be eligible for conditional release, meaning he will be back in the wild after only seven and a half years." – Host [70:41]

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Conclusion and Reflections

The episode ends with the host’s bleak and biting critique of the failures of modern parenting, the criminal justice system, and the penchant for scapegoating media rather than addressing deeper societal problems. He reiterates personal accountability and rails against reform policies that allow for the possibility of Daniel Gore’s early release despite the sickening nature of his crime.

"Quit blaming media for shit parenting or non parenting... You want to cure all the ills of society? Make parents liable for what their kids do instead of television or movies or music. That'll fix society real quick." – Host [70:41]

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Key Segment Timestamps

• Beaverton’s “Charm” and Daniel’s Isolation: [00:25–11:26]
• Discovery and Crime Scene: [15:44–18:53]
• Digital Trail and Surveillance: [23:13–27:00]
• Police Hunt and Arrest: [27:46–37:33]
• Interrogation: [41:03–45:39]
• Speculative Crime Narrative: [45:45–53:47]
• Court Proceedings and Sentencing: [54:08–69:18]
• Closing Commentary: [70:22–end]

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This episode is a harrowing exploration of brutality hiding in plain sight, the importance of early intervention, and the consequences when support systems fail. The story is told with unflinching detail, vivid recollections from witnesses and friends, and the host’s trademark uncompromising tone.

Transcript

[Host]

Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences.

[Judge]

Listener discretion is advised.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

And then I noticed some red in the water and a blanket, a blue blanket with hair underneath which I had convinced myself was moss.

[Host]

Well, I hope you appreciate this one because I had to drag my depressed ass out of bed after what happened in Minneapolis this week. This is Sword and scale, episode 315. Let's go, I guess. In the quiet city of Beaverton, Orange, Oregon, life moves at a predictable pace. Those who live there usually know what to expect. Families dine in cozy restaurants, children play in well kept parks, and parents only rarely have to worry about the few dreadlocked gypsies that have migrated from downtown Portland. And before you complain about me using the word gypsy because it offends you, just realize that I don't give a shit. But despite a few dirty hippies here and there, Beaverton seems like a wonderful place. I mean, it was originally named after all the beaver dams they had. What's cuter than that? Once a relatively small community, Beaverton has maintained its reputation as a safe place for both residents and business owners. It's also quite beautiful. Naturally, a lot of the west coast is, except for the people, of course.

[Police Officer]

Citizens value safety hugely here, but our department shines.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

It keeps us safe and it's highly valued. And that's absolutely another key reason to why businesses locate here and value being here in Beaverton.

[Host]

Aside from becoming home to corporate giants such as Nike and Tektronix, the city's public transit is another unique contributor to its booming economy.

[Detective]

Beaverton is on the easterly edge of Washington county and is really the hub for transportation choices. We've got great transit options here. We have the Max train, the west train. We also have a tremendous bus network.

[Host]

Despite its growth, Beaverton's wooded trails, quiet streams and parks are what make the city unique. It's got the best of both worlds. But like anywhere, there are aspects of Beaverton that aren't exactly advertised on postcards or in travel brochures. It's not an escape for everyone. For many, the forests of the Pacific Northwest are less a refuge and more of a last resort. A place where the ever growing homeless population struggles to survive when there's nowhere else to go. 16 year old Daniel Ryan Gore was one of the city's underbelly residents. But he wasn't living in the woods out of necessity. He was there by choice. In his eyes, anything was better than living at home with his parents. He was born in Oklahoma and his family Moved to Beaverton when he was only 11 years old. A short time later, they relocated again, this time to the more affordable town of Salem.

[Detective]

What brought you guys to West Salem, chica? Oh, okay.

[Witness/Friend]

I think it was one of my parents jobs.

[Detective]

Okay. And then you guys moved? Was it the Beaverton area?

[Witness/Friend]

Initially, yeah.

[Detective]

Okay. All right. And so mom and dad are down there. Do you have any family up in this area?

[Host]

Allegedly his parents did what they could to provide him with better opportunities. I have my doubts, but Daniel wasn't like most kids. He started feeling more like an outsider with each passing year. Constantly moving around and being placed in new school districts made it hard for Daniel to make friends. He struggled academically and spent most afternoons at the lunch table alone. He was often seen wearing headphones, blaring heavy metal and rap music to block out the world around him. Eventually, Daniel did break out of his shell, but not in a good way. By the time he entered high school, Daniel had established a reputation as a class clown. And instead of being the popular funny guy, he was more known as the weird goth kid who would randomly scream in class for laughs that were rarely received. As he strayed further from his peers, he leaned more into music, connecting with underground artists more than any of his classmates. That's when Daniel discovered Seven, a progressive metal rapper out of Atlanta, Georgia.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

He was pretty obsessed with this artist, like, loved everything he did. Every song he came out with, every post he made he would repost, like Instagram videos or TikToks about people, other people obsessing over this artist.

[Host]

On the rare occasion when Daniel did converse with other students, seven and his latest song became the only thing he cared to talk about. He was fixated. Unfortunately, the other kids weren't that interested. It wasn't long after that Daniel convinced himself he just didn't belong. Not just in school, but in society. Right around that time, he dropped out and had plans to run away from home. Shortly after his 16th birthday, he packed an oversized duffel bag and bought a bus ticket to Portland. Without any savings or a place to go, he ended up living on the streets of Oregon's busiest city. I'm sure you've seen the homeless encampments out there and all the rioting and drug use. Daniel found himself sleeping in parks or underneath the overhang of the first Interstate bank. After a few months, he eventually got sick of being woken up by cops or having business owners kick him off their property. That's when he decided he needed to move somewhere more remote. Somewhere quiet and safe from all the Tweakers roaming around downtown Portland like zombies. Nothing says compassion like continuing to let that happen. Anyway, while he certainly could have gone back home to his parents in Salem, that thought never crossed his mind. After hopping on one of the computers inside the city library and a few Google searches later, it was settled. 16 year old Daniel was headed back to Beaverton.

[Detective]

Okay, so you take a bus from Salem to Wilsonville and then you get on the max from Wilsonville and take out here.

[Witness/Friend]

Okay.

[Detective]

And it's three bucks for that long. That shot about okay.

[Host]

By now he was well versed in public transportation, so hopping on a bus at Union Station was nothing new. After panhandling long enough to afford a one way ticket, Daniel was on the next bus out of town. When he arrived, Daniel spent the little cash he had left on supplies with plans to set up camp in the woods. After walking for miles, he eventually came across the Progress Ridge shopping center in Beaverton's south end. At an Ace hardware store inside the plaza, he purchased a camping tent and blue blanket before walking through the parking lot towards the tree line. As he finished setting up camp, Daniel felt a sense of calm wash over him. His new home was quiet, serene. Besides the faint noise of cars and the shopping mall roughly two football fields away, Daniel had the woods all to himself. If he needed something to eat, he'd walk the short distance to the shopping center to dig through the dumpsters for food that had been recently tossed away. When that didn't work, he'd hit New Season's Market, an overpriced grocery store located in the plaza where the rich folk of Beaverton shopped. Luckily for Daniel, money was no object. Literally, he had none. Right before the last register was about to close, Daniel would stroll the aisles, pretending to shop before secretly stuffing a package of hot dogs or a can of chili in his coat pocket. After that, he walked across the parking lot into the woods where he'd start a campfire and cook himself a meal. A stolen one doesn't sound that bad to be honest.

[Detective]

How long have you been staying in a tent?

[Witness/Friend]

50Ish days.

[Detective]

50Ish days.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

Okay.

[Host]

Daniel had been living outside for a couple of months up to this point. As much as he enjoyed the privacy, he was still a 16 year old boy. And eventually Daniel got bored. That's when he started frequenting the shopping mall more often. Not to steal hot dogs, but to socialize. The AMC movie theater at the plaza was one of the main places Daniel started hanging out. Eventually he met some kids his age who, like him, had Nothing else to do on a Friday night but catch the late night showing of Avatar 2. Didn't see it, but I heard that was shit. Finally, Daniel had a solid group of friends. For the first time ever, he felt accepted. Imagine that. The local teens who attended high school in Beaverton a few miles down the road, knew he was homeless but never judged him. If anything, they were concerned for his well being, especially when the colder months rolled around. One day in January 2022, Daniel arrived at the AMC Theater to meet up with his new friends. But they noticed his clothes were soaking wet. It was clear he'd been struggling to survive in this tent just a couple hundred yards away. Daniel told his friends he was fine, but after visiting the camp, they knew from the damaged tarps ready to cave in from the fresh snowfall that they really needed to get Daniel out of the woods. I wonder what his parents were doing.

[Friend of Daniel]

Around this time, I was having friends over. I had recently met a new group and they asked me to invite one of their friends over and I said yes.

[Host]

During one particular visit to a friend's home, Daniel and a group of others were hanging out watching tv. At one point, while the group was eating a meal the mother prepared, Daniel's friend mentioned that he was homeless.

[Friend of Daniel]

I was made aware that he didn't have a house and I told my mother that and she started crying and told me he could do his laundry whenever he wanted.

[Host]

The girl's mother instantly broke into tears and insisted he stay with them that night. While he wasn't used to accepting a helping hand, this time he did and was genuinely thankful. From that point forward, anytime the weather was harsh, the mother of Daniel's friend insisted he stay with them.

[Friend of Daniel]

Eventually it started snowing and my mom was even more sad and wanted him to be safe and let him stay the night. Every once in a while when it was really cold, different times when he was hungry, she would of course let him eat our food and sometimes, I'm pretty sure, got him canned food from either pantries or our pantry.

[Host]

One night, when Daniel showed up at the door, the mom surprised him with a gift. It was a brand new orange puffer coat. Daniel couldn't have been more grateful as the weather was only getting worse. To return the favor, Daniel would offer to help around the house during his overnight stays. He was polite and came across as a genuine teenager who just needed some help. Accepting it, though, was something Daniel struggled with. After retreating back to his campsite and vanishing behind the trees, Daniel started to isolate himself again. Left with nothing but his Thoughts and dark lyrics from heavy metal music crackling through his cheap headphones. As the snow continued to fall, his friends and their families feared that Daniel might not make it through the night. But it wasn't just the harsh elements that they had to be concerned with, as there was no way of knowing the sheer violence that was about to unfold in those very same Oregon woods.

[Detective]

Oh, what you eating?

[Host]

The new banana split cookie from AM pm. All freshly baked with real butter with banana, chocolate and strawberry flavors.

[Detective]

That sounds amazing. Can I have a bite?

[Host]

I'm sorry, but no. But you can't split the banana split.

[Detective]

Not even a little.

[Host]

Not even a crumb. What if. No, please. Mine when it's too legit to split. That's Cravenian's. Get a 3 pack for 99 cents with our app AM PM. Too much good stuff plus tax where applicable. Prices and participation may vary. Terms and conditions apply. For Daniel Gore, life wasn't easy. At just 16 years old, he left home with no plan and barely enough cash to purchase a bus ticket to Portland, Oregon. When life on the streets became too harsh, he sought refuge in the nearby woods of Beaverton and set up camp behind the Progress Ridge Shopping Center. Unfortunately, with homelessness often comes danger and sometimes the threat of extreme violence. While he struggled to find his way in the world, any chance of starting over for Daniel was inevitably destroyed when a harrowing discovery was made on May 10, 2022, just past 3pm A group of local residents was walking along Barrows Road before veering onto the west side regional trailhead directly located behind the Progress Ridge Shopping center in Beaverton.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

We walked through into the forest wooded area and walked around for a while. We didn't see much.

[Host]

After a short trek, they came across a pair of ripped sweatpants hanging from a branch as well as a pair of high top Converse sneakers that were stuck in the mud. The group became worried. Almost immediately after walking towards the items, they noticed something else.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

And then I noticed some red in the water and a blanket. A blue blanket with hair underneath which I had convinced myself was moss.

[Host]

The blanket was draped over a shallow creek that ran through the woods. As they neared closer, they noticed the raised impression of something underneath. What was even more suspicious was that the blanket had been weighed down by several logs and rocks. It was at this point that the group stepped back in shock before running out of the woods and notifying police.

[Witness/Friend]

Are you talking about this little spot way down here?

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

Yeah.

[Witness/Friend]

Okay.

[Host]

I didn't touch anything. I made sure not to touch anything I saw.

[Witness/Friend]

Okay. Do you guys wanna wait up? Can you wait up here for me and then we'll come back up and chat with you in just a few minutes?

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

Yeah. There's also like just a little blanket.

[Detective]

In the water, but I don't.

[Host]

Doesn't look like there's anything under it, but. Okay.

[Witness/Friend]

Yeah. Are you good to stay up here then?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Witness/Friend]

Okay.

[Host]

When authorities arrived, the scene was immediately secured. As people started to swarm around the caution tape perimeter.

[Witness/Friend]

I saw like a bevy of cops in like a circle. Seems like they were doing a search.

[Detective]

I was very surprised to see all the police here.

[Witness/Friend]

I mean, I had to connect the dots. They're being very, you know, quiet about it all that.

[Host]

While the vast presence of SUVs and police cruisers lined the streets just behind them and down the small ravine, crime scene techs started carefully gathering evidence in the woods.

[Witness/Friend]

Well, I could tell about the blanket that it appeared it was weighted down and there was definitely something under it. It looked like I noticed human hair in the water. And at some point, I think I point that out.

[Host]

Upon examining the blanket waiting in the water, forensics started lifting the stones and debris.

[Detective]

We removed the blanket and it was photographed in place. There are multiple branches and large rocks that had been placed on the body to hold it down and input place in the water.

[Host]

The body of a deceased teenage victim was found. The individual was completely nude except for their socks. Ligature marks were visible on their neck. The face was swollen and bruised. Investigators then took notice of one of the victim's fingernails.

[Detective]

It actually had been snapped back at the nail bed and it was just kind of hanging.

[Host]

The victim's family was notified immediately. That same evening, the city of Beaverton, Oregon fell into a collective state of shock when authorities released the name of the teen found dead in the woods. We want to get straight to some breaking news out of Beaverton tonight. Police say they've found the body of a missing student.

[Detective]

Tonight, we know the circumstances surrounding the girl's death are suspicious.

[Host]

At around 7am on Monday, May 9, Asel Lee arrives home from her overnight shift at the Nike store in Beaverton. She hasn't seen her daughter Malana since the evening before when she left for work. She calls out for her, but there's no answer. Thinking Malana must have simply left early for school, she decides to check her daughter's bedroom just to be sure. When Estelle cracks open the door, uneasiness sets in. When she notices Malana's book bag is still in the corner of the room. Estelle starts making phone calls. And reaches out to Malana's friends. But no one has seen or heard from her. Her worry deepens. She calls the school, hoping for reassurance, only to learn that Malana never showed up that day. This is when panic starts to set in. After nearly 24 hours and still no sign of her, Asel and a group of Malana's friends take to the streets and nearby woods, retracing her usual route. But then they find something. Off the wooded trails of Barrows Road. Scattered along the damp forest floor are Malana's shoes and torn pajama pants, the same items she was last seen wearing. Moments later, they spot a blue blanket lying flat over a slow running creek, unaware at that moment that beneath that pile of debris is Malana's savagely beaten body.

[Police Officer]

Yeah, it's just horribly sad. Officers say that that young lady was Malana Lee. And we're just finding out about this in the past hour or so and already some community members have put flowers here near where her body was found. They found her body in a small stream over here. This is the west side Linear park near the west side Trail. Police just left this scene. They had this all blocked off near Burrows Road for this investigation.

[Host]

Once the body was removed from the water and transported by the coroner in preparation for an autopsy, a group of investigators expanded their search and proceeded further into the woods. It wasn't long before they came across a homeless encampment roughly 200 yards from progress Ridge shopping Center. The site appeared to have been someone's long term dwelling, as indicated by a series of tarps meticulously tied from various trees covering the small camping tent. Fresh food wrappers and recently burnt embers inside a small fire pit suggested that whoever was staying there hadn't left long before police arrived. Directly adjacent to the camping tent was the discarded packaging of a blanket, consistent with the same blanket used to conceal Malana's body. The authorities searched inside the tent. They found a diary. Upon reading it, they immediately took notice of the phrase I feel like Dexter ominously written inside the journal. Something else that struck the deputies Azade, was a collage of artwork found etched into a nearby tree. Chiseled into the bark were several skulls with joker type smiles adorned with a unique set of devil horns atop each of the cartoon's heads. It was unclear what the images were, but all the pocket knife carvings depicted a rendition of the same character. Back at the primary crime scene, additional items of evidentiary value were being collected. In addition to the clothing and broken fingernail, the victim's Poison purse was found a few meters north waiting in the creek. The bag was partially filled with water and missing one of its leather straps. Investigators eventually recovered the missing strap in a nearby bush. Inside the purse was Milana's phone case, but her device was missing.

[Detective]

We did an emergency connection with her phone through T mobile to try to get her Latin longitude where her cell phone was last seen so we would have an idea of where to start looking.

[Host]

Once a subpoena was successfully filed through Malana's phone carrier, authorities learned that her device showed activity throughout Beaverton several hours after the murder and had just recently been powered off. Upon accessing the victim's final texts and online messages, they found a Facebook correspondence that started the afternoon she disappeared. This conversation was between malana and a 16 year old named Daniel Gore. Surprised, huh? Come on, this is sword and scale. On May 8, 2022, Malana contacted Daniel at around 2.30pm she asked him what his plans were. That afternoon Daniel responded to the message stating he was at the local library so that he could use the Internet. What the fuck is the purpose of libraries in 2025 now that we have the Internet? Oh right. Masturbatoriums for homeless people. And a huge waste of taxpayer money if you ask me. Leave your outrage in the comments, Karen. Anyway, eventually the two arrange to meet up, Daniel and Malana with the intention of getting drunk with some mutual friends. Over the course of several hours, Malana and Daniel continued to communicate on Facebook. Malana sent several more messages asking Daniel who would be joining them that evening. Daniel responded by providing the names of one male and at least two other girls, but said he wasn't sure if they were going to make it. At around 6pm location data placed Malana at her residence before traveling towards the shopping plaza less than half a mile away. At 6:30pm, Milana's cell phone pinged at Menchi's frozen yogurt at the Progress Ridge shopping Center. Surveillance footage from inside the business corroborated Milana's location when she was seen entering Menshees accompanied by a male teenager.

[Witness/Friend]

That depicts May 8, 2022. It will show Daniel Gore and Malana lee together around 6:40pm Enter the location and then leave.

[Host]

Three minutes later, Milana is seen in the footage wearing pajama pants and high top Converse sneakers as she orders a cup of frozen yogurt while the male suspect is captured on camera wearing a bright orange puffer jacket. Minutes later, surveillance captures Moana and the suspect walking through the parking lot to a bus stop. The Two are seen boarding a bus before its doors close and they start traveling eastbound. Minutes later, they're captured on surveillance a few blocks away, exiting the bus at a nearby intersection before boarding another one. The evidence indicated that the pair rode a series of buses for a total of 25 minutes before finally getting off at a Walgreens less than a mile north of where the trip started. Imagine riding public buses for fun. What it is to be young and stupid. The next time the pair was spotted was at 7:45pm Walking south in the vicinity of the shopping plaza and approaching the west side Regional Trail. This is the very last time Mali.

[Witness/Friend]

Is caught on camera alive. What is haunting about this image?

[Host]

She has no idea that in just over an hour her life will be taken. After identifying the individual, who was believed to be Daniel Gore, of course, investigators started looking into his online activity. Through both his Facebook and Instagram messages, authorities were able to track down friends of the suspect who he'd been communicating with before and after the murder. Hours after Malana's body was found, detectives arrived at an apartment complex in Beaverton where a female friend of Daniel's met them in the doorway and welcomed them inside. As they entered the home, one of the officers immediately noticed what was hanging on a nearby coat rack.

[Witness/Friend]

There was an orange goose down, puffy coat hanging at the entrance. The coat had a noticeable amount of mud on the hood and there was also a bag of laundry in the living room that I later learned was potentially relevant.

[Host]

When authorities asked the girl who the jacket belonged to, she said Daniel. She went on to say that he regularly stayed over on cold nights due to the fact he was homeless. When asked when she saw him last, the suspect's friend told police on May 8 at around 8:45pm wearing the orange.

[Friend of Daniel]

Jacket, I noticed scratches on his face and I asked him how he got those along with how he had mud on his pants, and he said he fell.

[Host]

According to her statements to police, he was acting a bit strange at the time.

[Friend of Daniel]

He was more standoffish, which was another observation my mom and I talked about. But I was definitely disappointed because he's.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

Usually really respectful to my mom.

[Host]

He was abnormally quiet and at one point retreated to the bathroom.

[Friend of Daniel]

He went to the restroom to make a private call, which wasn't normal for him, and so it was kind of secretive.

[Host]

According to the witness, Daniel changed his clothes a short time later before leaving the residence. After gaining permission to search the property, investigators made their way to the garage. Inside one of the trash cans was a pair of men's jeans soaked in water and covered in dirt. After tracing Daniel's call made from his friend's bathroom, Investigators were led to a young woman named Eva, Daniel's ex girlfriend, who had known him since the third grade.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

It was a really, really unhealthy relationship. There was a lot of codependency from both sides in my relationship with him. I was very isolated from the people in my life, including my parents and friends, and really, he was the main support that I felt I had.

[Host]

Long before Daniel was homeless and wanted for suspicion of murder, Eva was one of the few friends he had. She herself was a loner, which led the two of them to form a deeply codependent and emotionally unstable relationship. When they first started dating years before, Eva became increasingly defiant towards authority figures, A character trait surely mimicked and learned by her boyfriend, daniel. Over the years, they fed off each other's chaos, Cycling between intense closeness and explosive arguments.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

We were both very, extremely reliant on each other emotionally. We needed to be in contact almost constantly. There were times where if I wouldn't answer him, he would find. He would always find a way. If it wasn't text, he would find ever since we started dating in eighth grade, he would find a way to email me or even text me from an xbox.

[Host]

Like most toxic relationships, Eva and Daniel brought out the worst in each other. And when she inevitably started to pull away, Daniel became increasingly erratic and controlling.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

He was an extremely jealous person. He didn't want me having guy friends or really contact with any guys. Anytime I mentioned any guy saying anything, like one just called me a nickname. He would threaten them and literally say, like, oh, I want to kill them.

[Host]

These behaviors didn't go unnoticed by Eva's friends, But more notably, her parents. You see, they were actually paying attention.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

He would make me feel like he was the only person that could make me feel loved or happy and would encourage me to do things to go against my father or my parents in general, which really created a big divide between me and my family.

[Host]

Eva's parents were so worried about her safety that they eventually put the relationship to an end for her. Sometimes you gotta just do what you gotta do, Even if your kids hate you for it. As long as she was living under their roof, Eva was no longer allowed to see Daniel from that point on. While she may not have seen it at the time, Being exiled from Daniel very well may have saved her life. But it wasn't just women Daniel had a problem with. It was the law as well. Roughly three months before Malana was found dead, face down in a creek. Daniel was placed on probation in February 2022. At the time, the juvenile courts of Salem, Oregon found him guilty of multiple offenses, including second degree theft, criminal mischief, and arson. According to court records, Daniel was arrested after attempting to burn down a movie theater in the Portland area. As a result, the Washington County DA recommended that he be held in juvenile detention. But despite the DA's concerns for public safety, the Washington county juvenile department released him back to his family in Salem. I mean, they'd done such a great job up until this point. Weeks later, Daniel ran away from his home to start a new life as a homeless person living in the woods of Beaverton. What a life. In April of that year, Daniel's father emailed Salem's juvenile department to inform them that his son might be somewhere in the Beaverton area. But for whatever reason, Daniel's father was ignored, and the juvenile department failed to notify the DA or the local police. Despite their breakup, Eva and Daniel continued to communicate regularly. And while there was physical distance between the two, he managed to keep an emotional hold on her. But as time passed, she was able to see the situation for what it actually was.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

Over time, I had separation from Daniel, and so there was a lot less of that fear. And that also, like, I loved him and I wanted to be able to have him in my life. And so as there was time in my life where he wasn't a part of it, it became a lot easier to see the situation without the emotional lens.

[Host]

When Eva was ultimately questioned by police after a body was found in the woods, she admitted that Daniel called her from his friend's house not long after Malana was last seen alive.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

He's calling me and he sounded stressed or upset in some way, and he started telling me that, like, he had done something and he couldn't tell me what it was. And so I kept like, pressing and pushing, being like, what did you do? Where were you? Because at this point, like, I have no idea what's going on, and he's just telling me like, I did something bad. Like, I can't tell you what it is. Was just telling me that he had gone to hang out with and was just telling me that he did something, he took care of it, he handled it, and was implying that he had done something bad to her.

[Host]

After speaking with the suspect's ex girlfriend, locating him became that much more dire as he was still out there walking amongst the public. We were following up on every lead.

[Witness/Friend]

I would encourage people, no matter how small they Think that their tip is.

[Host]

To call us in, because it could be, you know, that thing that leads.

[Witness/Friend]

Us to the portion of the case that we need to solve.

[Host]

It became clear from the very start that Daniel Gore was much more dangerous than the innocent drifter he portrayed himself as to his friends around Beaverton. His exact connection to the victim was still unknown. But as someone who knows the woods of Beaverton better than anyone else, there was no telling where he was. Given the state in which he left Malana's body not far from his campsite, authorities weren't blind to the fact that provided the opportunity. There wasn't much stopping Daniel from committing further acts of violence. Then, on the evening of May 10, authorities received a call from a state member of the Murray School's branch library and masturbatorium in Beaverton. The caller told dispatch that he believed a man matching Daniel's description was using the Internet and sitting at one of the computer kiosks. When officers were dispatched, Daniel spotted police with their guns drawn as they made their way through the front door. As I approached kind of more of the backside of the library, I saw a gentleman that kind of matched his.

[Witness/Friend]

Description get up and run out the back door.

[Host]

As he fled through an emergency exit, deputies chased after him, but somehow Daniel managed to escape. That little fucker was fast. Back inside the library, one of the staff members stood guard at the computer the suspect was using, only to notice a Facebook messenger tab still active on the screen. While he glanced at the conversation between the suspect and one of his friends, the library employee retrieved a roll of Scotch tape and a piece of computer paper to cover the screen until police could take a closer look.

[Witness/Friend]

I saw two lines of print. They said cops are here. I think they're looking for Malana.

[Host]

Immediately following his escape, all units were dispatched to the surrounding areas. Within the hour, police retrieved a tip that the suspect had been spotted entering a nearby apartment unit located a few blocks away. As officers surrounded the complex, they eventually noticed movement up on a second story balcony. The individual pressed against the wall, attempting to hide, and was quickly identified as their suspect. Daniel was surrounded, and after realizing there was nowhere to run, he walked out of the building's main entrance with his hands in the air. As he made his way towards the officers, they could see he was holding something while being placed in cuffs. One of the deputies ripped the object away from him, only to find what appeared to be a white Halloween mask that was an exact replica of the skull drawings etched into a tree at Daniel's campsite in early May of 2022, Asel Lee returned home from an overnight shift to find that her daughter Milana was missing. At first, she assumed she may have left early that morning for school. But as the hours passed and Malana failed to answer her phone, concern turned into panic. Asel and a group of Malana's friends started searching the neighborhood, calling out for her. Their efforts led them to a trailhead off of Barrows Road where they found her shoes and torn pajama pants scattered near a wooded area. The search came to a tragic end on May 10 when Malana's loved ones stumbled upon a blue blanket in a shallow creek just off the west side Regional Trail. Underneath it, weighed down by rocks and logs, was Moana's lifeless body. She had been beaten, strangled, and left for dead. The discovery triggered a full scale homicide investigation, prompting authorities to piece together her last known movements. Data pulled from Milana's device showed that she'd been active on Facebook the afternoon she disappeared, chatting with a 16 year old named Daniel Gore. Their conversation revealed plans to meet up that evening, and surveillance footage later confirmed they'd spent the night wandering through Beaverton, boarding buses and eventually making their way into the woods. Authorities ultimately tracked their suspect to a public library. When police arrived, Daniel fled, only to be arrested a short time later when he was found hiding at a friend's apartment. With their suspect now in custody, detectives finally had the opportunity to speak with Daniel when he was brought in for questioning and try to piece together why.

[Detective]

You have the right to remain silent. Do you understand what that means?

[Witness/Friend]

Yes.

[Detective]

Okay, tell me when your words would what that means.

[Witness/Friend]

Right.

[Detective]

So when. When did you. Are you willing to talk to me about where you've been staying and stuff?

[Witness/Friend]

I was just staying in the Beaverton area.

[Host]

The conversation started off casually with detectives asking Daniel about his day to day life. He seemed excited when the topic of the library came up. I wonder why. He was eager to tell detectives how he spent a lot of his time watching police body cam footage and true crime videos on YouTube of all things.

[Witness/Friend]

I guess I just want to take the body cam. Yeah, there we go. No, we don't. We're not.

[Detective]

We don't like the acting like BR48 or anything like that or nothing like that.

[Witness/Friend]

The body cam.

[Detective]

Body cam's done, huh? Is it really that interesting? Usually that's the most fascinating thing you've seen.

[Witness/Friend]

Oh, that's tough. Like real life. Holy.

[Detective]

I can't believe that happens.

[Witness/Friend]

It. I've seen so many.

[Detective]

What comes to the top of Your top of your mind? Well, it's tough.

[Witness/Friend]

I don't remember half of them. I just remember watching them. I don't remember. Can I have a men think about it? Oh, actually, no. I don't watch A and E a lot. I watch. It's called Code Blue Camp now. I don't know why.

[Host]

Eventually, the conversation shifted to the night of May 8, 2022, the last night Malana Lee was seen alive. Daniel admitted that he and Malana had been drinking alcohol together that evening and that he was drunk before the two boarded the first bus. Now, here's an idea for a law that makes sense. I'm sure you legal experts will tell me in the comments, why is it legal to sell alcohol or any other vices, for that matter, to the homeless? Can you give me a good reason for that? Why don't we just make it illegal across the board federally? That sure as hell would be a deterrent to becoming homeless in the first place.

[Detective]

And then you said you were drinking skinny margaritas.

[Witness/Friend]

Yeah, just a bottle of skinny.

[Detective]

Was it, like, mixed, or did it actually have alcohol in it?

[Witness/Friend]

No, I had alcohol. It's like 9%.

[Detective]

So how did you get your hands on that? Old friends.

[Witness/Friend]

I have good connections.

[Detective]

Sounds much good.

[Host]

Daniel described how it was raining heavily that night, yet struggled to recall any other key details. He insisted that he and Malana eventually parted ways and that when the night was over, he simply went back to his tent alone. That's when detectives decided to confront Daniel about the blatant scratches covering his face and arms.

[Detective]

Help me understand how you got the scratches on the outside of your. Right.

[Witness/Friend]

These? Yeah, they're just from punching walls.

[Detective]

What walls were you punching?

[Witness/Friend]

There's, like, brick walls.

[Detective]

Why were you punching walls?

[Witness/Friend]

I just looked for other paint.

[Detective]

When did you do that to your day ago.

[Host]

Though authorities were certain Daniel was already well aware, detectives chose to inform him that Milana had been found dead in the woods hours before.

[Detective]

So I have some news about Milana. Okay. That I want to share with you. She was found today. She was deceased.

[Witness/Friend]

Like, deceased?

[Detective]

Yes.

[Witness/Friend]

Do you know where?

[Detective]

Well, that's what. Yeah, I do. But, you know, we're out chatting with people to find out, you know, as much information as they can. She was sound kind of in the progress area, so I wanted to talk to you about what you may know that could give us, you know, points in a direction of who we can talk to. Or would you know anything about how. How she may have died? No, because I'll be honest with you, too because like Chad said, I've been doing this for quite a while. It. You're pretty, I guess, unemotional. When we give you news that you were the last person seen with someone who is now deceased. To me, I. There just doesn't seem to be any worry or it's just kind of this Vlad affect.

[Witness/Friend]

I mean it's sort of like. Instead it's just like. I don't know how to describe it.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

It's just like.

[Witness/Friend]

Because I didn't know it that well, stuff like that and stuff. Stuff like involving staff, I guess I just like, I've seen stuff and just.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

Like.

[Witness/Friend]

Stuff like that doesn't really affect me anymore.

[Detective]

What kind of death are you familiar with?

[Witness/Friend]

Some of my friends are just into, I'm sure, you know, like Core videos. They would watch that a lot around me. Just I saw it all and it was like seeing it too much and.

[Host]

It'S like Daniel Gore is into Gore. Great. I'm gonna go ahead and leave the dad jokes out of this one. This story's pissing me off more than anything.

[Detective]

A lot of people that would be in your position would at least be a little bit worried or concerned they're the last person to be seen with a dead girl.

[Witness/Friend]

I'm not. Just like I said, I've been very desensitized.

[Host]

Daniel was then asked if authorities could expect to find his DNA at the crime scene.

[Witness/Friend]

The blue blanket, is your DNA going to be on that? No. Melania's DNA is. Is her DNA going to be found in your fingernails? No. Okay.

[Detective]

There's not going to be any DNA inside her body or anywhere on her body that would have otherwise been covered up with clothes?

[Witness/Friend]

No. Okay.

[Host]

While he denied any involvement in the crime throughout his police interview, the evidence doesn't lie. And the truth behind what really happened to Malana that night in the woods is. Well, let's just put it this way. The following description of events is speculative based on all the available police reports and witness testimony and all the other information we could find. But it captures a broad truth of what happened that night. Here we go. It was just before 8pm on May 8. The rain is pouring down heavily in Beaverton, Oregon, and Malana and Daniel are approaching the woods behind the Progress Ridge Shopping Center. They'd spent the better part of the evening riding city buses and sneaking sips of alcohol hidden inside Daniel's backpack. The 16 year old has downed more than a few of his premixed margaritas. Alana's only had a single Corona as the two make their way towards the west side regional trailhead. They eventually exit the park surveillance camera's frame. The distant streetlights beyond the trees slowly fade away with each step they take into the woods. As they trudge through the mud along the narrow path, the alcohol in Daniel's belly keeps him warm. The two laugh intermittently on their trek as the rain drops over the thick canopy of leaves above. Somewhere along their route, Malana's carefree demeanor shifts a bit. She looks around, only to realize how secluded she is now, alone in the darkness with a boy she barely knows. The thrill of underage drinking has worn off and Malana tells Daniel she better get back home. Daniel stops in his tracks and turns to Malana but says nothing. With a drunken grin, he steps towards Malana and presses his dirt covered palms around her waist. She stiffens in both disgust and surprise, but Daniel persists and leans in to kiss her. Immediately she rejects his advances and shoves him. She turns to leave, but Daniel reaches for her arm and pulls her body into his. Malana swipes at his arm and Daniel becomes enraged. As Malana turns to run, she's knocked to the ground from a harsh shove to the back, sending her purse flying through the air. She hits the dirt and screams for help. Without a second to react, Daniel's fist lands on the side of her cheek. Alana raises her hands in defense, but not quickly enough as Daniel delivers a series of blows.

[Medical Examiner]

She has a number of examples of blunt injury. In particular, we can see some bruising on her left shoulder and on the left side of her face as the.

[Host]

Rainwater mixes with the blood now pouring from Alana's nose. She manages to get to her feet, but her shoes seep deep into the mud. With her feet planted, unable to move, Malana claws and swings her hands wildly, scratching Daniel's face and hands in the process. This only infuriates him more and Daniel throws another right hook, splitting Malana's lip as she falls to the ground again. While laying on her back, Malana continues to rake her nails across her attacker's face, ripping one of them off.

[Medical Examiner]

And not only did it take the prosthetic nail, but it also took her native nail underneath and pulled it up.

[Host]

She tries to crawl away, but Daniel flips her body over and forces his way on top of her. With his knees pressed into Malana's ribs, Daniel proceeds to choke her. He then reaches for her purse just inches away. One of the last things Malana sees is the strap of the purse raise over her head before feeling it Wrapped tightly around her neck. Daniel pulls back back on the leather strap as hard as he can, becoming aroused at the sight of Malana's life leaving her body. Eventually, the purse strap snaps and the woods becomes silent. Daniel stands over Malana's corpse with the ligature dangling uselessly in his hand. But he isn't finished and now plans to take what he came for. Now that the victim is no longer a threat, Daniel removes Malana's mud covered Converses before ripping off her pajama bottoms and top layers of clothing. He undoes his belt buckle before pulling down his jeans past his waist. Daniel is a necrophiliac.

[Medical Examiner]

The source of the blood in the vagina was this laceration in the hymen.

[Host]

Milano's autopsy confirmed she had been raped. The postmortem examination showed visible signs of bruising and tearing to her vaginal walls, along with the presence of male DNA located inside the victim's body. Once finished with his depraved act, Daniel moves methodically through the woods. The ones he knows like the back of his hand. He arrives at his campsite moments later, where he retrieves a blue blanket inside his tent. After retracing his steps through the dark and back to the crime scene, Daniel dragged Malana toward a shallow creek located just a few feet away at the water's edge. He rolls her over face down before draping the bottom blanket over her. He then rushes to gather several rocks and logs and toss them on top of the fabric to better conceal the body. Then he grabs Malana's cell phone from her purse before fleeing into the night, leaving the purse, clothing ligature and his DNA behind. The medical examiner's opinion was that the primary cause of death came as a result of manual strangulation. But the water found in Malana's lungs presented the possibility that she may have still been alive at the time her body was dumped in the creek.

[Medical Examiner]

The horror in this case evidence that would indicate drowning include that frothy liquid that was coming out of her nose that might be seen in a drowning.

[Host]

Corroborated by cell phone data, surveillance and witness statements. Daniel arrived at his friend's house across town a short time later. After discarding his jeans in the trash and changing out of his clothes, he excused himself to the bathroom where he called his ex girlfriend Eva, only to be arrested roughly two days later.

[News Reporter]

Tonight we know the name. The of of the juvenile charged with murdering Milana Lee was found dead at a Beaverton park last week. The Washington County Sheriff's office and the DA's office says the alleged killer is 16 year old Daniel Gore. They say Gore was on probation for non violent charges including theft and arson. Gore was charged with first degree murder in juvenile court yesterday.

[Host]

Did that just say that arson is a non violent crime? What is it with the media these days? Mostly peaceful protests. Get the fuck out of here. In addition to first degree murder, he was later charged with first degree rape. Given the fact that he was a juvenile, a key legal battle inevitably emerged concerning whether Gore would be tried as an adult. According to Oregon's original statute, juveniles 15 and older charged with violent crimes such as murder and rape can be prosecuted as adults. But so called juvenile justice reforms that passed in 2019 introduced more leniency, prioritizing rehabilitation over lifelong incarceration, which meant that Gore could avoid a life sentence. But you see, Daniel wasn't the only juvenile in this story. And a lot of you bleeding heart assholes always seem to side with the perpetrator instead of the actual victim. You see, the victim was also a juvenile. In fact, Malana was only 13. 13. Barely a teenager, most certainly still very much a child. Malana's grandmother offered her opinion on why this piece of shit deserves zero sympathy no matter how leftist and backwards you are.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

My granddaughter is gone. She's not in this anymore here. So I don't want him make her to other people. If he can plan so he can know what he's doing. So he of course he has to go to adult as church as adult.

[Host]

During countless preliminary hearings, prosecutors argued the obvious that the premeditated rape, strangulation and disposal of 13 year old Malana Lee's body place Gore far beyond the scope of juvenile rehabilitation. This case is a horrific crime that occurred to a 13 year old girl. It is not the situation where such leniency should be granted to a defendant who has been found to have the adult like sophistication and maturity of an adult. And there are certainly cases where a second chance should be given to young defendants. This is not one of them. Thankfully, the judge agreed and Gore would stand trial as an adult, marking this case as a rare exception to Oregon's soft horseshit laws and propensity to protect violent assholes. The judge said Gore was sufficiently mature to understand his actions and keeping Gore in the juvenile system is not in the best interest of Gore and society. When his murder trial finally started in November 2024, the prosecution laid out a timeline of this brutal crime as well as Gore's personal connection to the victim. He'd only known Malana for roughly two weeks prior to the murder, when the two were introduced by mutual friends. According to witnesses, Daniel was one well aware that Moana was only 13, something that evidently didn't deter him in the slightest. Forensic analysts testified to both the surveillance footage and the digital footprint of the suspect leading up to Moana's last moments alive. In addition to cell phone pings, the state also established that Gore took Moana's phone and used it to send deceptive messages from pretending to be her. Following the murder, Gore also messaged multiple friends, asking them to lie about the last time they saw him, and even requested photos from a recent trip to California in an attempt to create a false alibi. Prosecutors presented evidence from Gore's Facebook and Instagram as well, under the username bodybag86. Yep. Yeah. The defendant's profile picture shows him wearing a white skull mask. If only there were signs, you know? This image matched the skulls found carved into a tree at Gore's campsite, as well as the mask he had in his possession at the time of his arrest. So what's up with these skulls? Well, apparently, the devil horn joker skull was the trademark of Gorgeous Score's favorite musical artist, the trap metal rapper named 7. What the fuck is trap metal, you might ask? Beats the fuck out of me. I'm 50.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

He would draw this artist, and he made himself a copy of the same mask that this artist had. He definitely was less him. It made him feel very disconnected, and it made. It really didn't feel like it was my boyfriend anymore. Like all he cared about was just that mask and Seven and being like Seven.

[Host]

While the artist isn't exactly well known, it's safe to say he had no idea that he had a super fan living in the woods of Beaverton, Oregon. I wonder how many fans I have living out there in them woods. Hopefully none. When the media first caught wind of the defendant's journal that was located inside his tent, the words I feel like Dexter written inside his notebook made headlines everywhere. Why does every violent dumbass idolize Dexter, by the way? Oh, right, right, right. Network television. It's accessible to the lowest common denominator. Must be why so many stupid opinions keep getting propagated. Local journos regurgitated inaccurate claims that Gore was inspired by the hit Showtime program that was later rerun on cbs, I believe, distributed to the unwashed masses. They love to promote their own shows, don't they, those Networks? News at 11. But had they done the bare minimum of research, the media may have realized that. I feel like Dexter is actually the name of one of Seven's songs released just a few months before Malana was killed. So the artist he idolizes is just as much of a dumbass. Cool, cool. Also a little side note here. Dexter didn't actually kill innocent 13 year old girls. He killed bad guys. And also shout out to Michael C. Hall. He's a, he's a good actor. Despite the show sucking. When looking at Seven's Instagram page, the theme of murder appears to make up his entire aesthetic. How edgy.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

He would dress up in a bunch of different kinds of costumes, but the main thing is he had a mask that like had the eyes cut out and a drawn on smile on it. And usually it was paired with like a hat and it just made it so you couldn't see his eyes. Like his eyes were blacked out. And in a lot of like his art or like cover art, the mask would have blood on it. And it was usually paired with pretty extreme clothing, usually black, like just big boots and heavy black clothing with a lot of like chains or chokers or stuff like that.

[Host]

Now I can't help but think that this unoriginal artiste, Seven gets his name from the popular, very well made David Fincher flick starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. Great flick. Which gets its name from, oh, I don't know, the Bible, seven deadly sins, that sort of thing. I mean, how many NPCs with not a speck of original thought are walking amongst us these days? You know what? Let me go see what these fuckers are all about. Give me a second, I'll be right back. Okay, maybe I'm being a little harsh. Music's not bad if you're into progressive metal. It's really not my thing, but it's artistic, I'll give him that. Maybe grandpa needs to take a chill pill and have a little nap. He's getting grumpy. The murder of 13 year olds will do that to me anyway. In one photo on the artist's Instagram, Seven can be seen wearing a female nurse costume while posing over a makeshift operating table cutting open a stuffed doll. Typical edgy metal shit. I'll be honest, if I was 17, I'd be all over it. The photo shows Seven blowing a kiss to a wide angle lens while a blood soaked scalpel, metal hooks and hatchet are seen placed atop a large Rubbermaid container. His opposite hand is seen clenched around the homemade doll that is his patient, which has its chest cavity exposed with a pair of scissors protruding from its ribs. For what it's worth. The doll looks oddly familiar to Jigsaw. You know, the puppet that rides the tricycle around before pushing you into a pit of hypodermic needles? In the movie Saw, Yeah, that guy seems like a bit of a clusterfuck of unoriginality if you ask me. But honestly, there's a lot of that can't be too harsh. While it remained unclear if Daniel Gore drew any inspiration from this violent rap music, you can kind of see how dumb people are easily influenced by the media. The defense called a neuropsychologist to the stand to dispel this motivational theory.

[Neuropsychologist]

Well, what we find is, while there's been great concern for musical lyrics from the point of view of predicting who will commit a crime, it does not predict. In fact, over the last 10 years, as the music has become more explicit, the crime rate's actually gone down. So the biggest concern is the misuse and misunderstanding, putting people who do write rap music, for example, on trial for their lyrics, when it doesn't predict at all.

[Host]

Ultimately, Daniel Gore's obsession with murder rap only helped paint Gore as a true weirdo to the jury. Something much more damning, though, were his Internet searches. Roughly one month before the murder, the jury learned that on April 2022, Gore typed the words girls and homeless people getting raped into his library's computer terminal. He'd also search for videos depicting women being strangled and suffering fatal neck injuries. Why does a homeless loser have Internet access again? Oh, right, right. So that Democrats can get elected. Thanks, Obama. The DNA found inside the victim was confirmed by forensics to be Daniels. But the defense disgustingly argued that the sexual encounter was consensual. As if you could have sex with a 13 year old consensually. Perhaps their one and only benefit was that no DNA of Gore's was located under the victim's fingernails, on her clothes, or anywhere else at the scene. Having said that, the prosecution was sure to remind the jury that Malana had been subjected to the elements for nearly two days before her body was found. And again, she was only 13. I assume it's pretty easy to overpower a 13 year old and walk away with barely a scratch. Probably harder to wrangle a house cat. The defendant's ex girlfriend, Eva, also testified, recalling her phone call with the defendant following the murder. And while he didn't say that he killed her explicitly, he may as well have.

[Eva (Daniel's ex-girlfriend)]

And he told me that she tried to kiss him, but that I shouldn't worry about it at all. I know that it was rainy either that day or a couple days after, because he had even mentioned, like rain washing away footprints and that the rain was a good thing. He did mention going back and saying that he was gonna go move her.

[Host]

At the end of the seven day trial. Deliberations lasted less than 90 minutes, and on November 22, 2024, Daniel Gore was found guilty on all counts. His expression remained unchanged as the verdict was read. He neither protested nor reacted and maintained the same blank stare since the day of his arrest, undoubtedly mimicking the expression of some hero of his in some piece of media looping through his tiny, tiny, tiny brain. At his sentencing hearing, prosecutors pushed for the maximum penalty. But before the final ruling was handed down, the judge addressed Gore directly.

[Judge]

Mr. Gore, I had the. I had the misfortune, if you will, of spending Thanksgiving weekend trying to figure out what I was going to say to you. I got to spend Thanksgiving with my family, including my child, who is the center of my life, and you took that away from Ms. Lee. It is beyond comprehension what you did to say. For me to say it's morally reprehensible is an understatement. I have combed through this case, I have combed through every page submitted to me, trying to figure out what on earth got into your head. Ripping her hymen to shreds and then strangling her. This was a failure on so many levels. Parenting, the juvenile system, peer groups, the community at large. How a 16 year old lives in a tent in the suburban area of Beaverton is beyond me. For as long as you did, anybody that watched that interview with you and the police, you were fully engaged, you knew fully what you were doing, where you tried to conceal her body, took pleasure in the fact that water would wash away some of the evidence. I find you knew exactly what you're doing. And I hope in the long sentence you serve, I hope, I hope that somebody finds out what's wrong with you. I hope I never have a person that what you didn't stand me in front of again.

[Host]

At age 18, Daniel Gore was sentenced to life in prison. Of course, though that's not what he's actually going to serve. You see, this is, after all, liberal Oregon. Oh my God, he's talking about politics again. Yeah, it's called the law. Despite his life sentence on paper for the murder of a 13 year old child and the rape of her dead, or possibly still alive body, juvenile justice reforms, as they're called, dictate that this pile of human feces will be eligible for parole in just 15 years. Daniel Gore will likely be released from prison before his 33rd birthday, just in time for the next antifa riot. Let's just say I hope karma finds him and I hope it finds him well. Hope he's having a wonderful day that day. When it does, it'll make it that much sweeter.

[Detective]

An 18 year old who was sentenced to life in prison this week for the rape and murder of a 13 year old girl may be eligible to leave prison in less than a decade.

[News Reporter]

That's because he was only 16 at the time of the murder, leaving him under the protection of Oregon state law. And this is drawing criticism from Washington county prosecutors.

[Host]

So there you have it. Justice J.K. j.K. You can't help but laugh, otherwise you have to cry. Despite his life sentence, Daniel Gore will be eligible for conditional release, meaning he will be back in the wild after only seven and a half years. You'll be able to find them at your local fucking library. That worst case scenario could come true as a result of a successful appeal, which Gore is currently in the process of putting society through. I mean, why wouldn't he? It's free. Well, not to taxpayers, but to him. You get my drift. As for the question of whether violent entertainment creates violent people, it's a story as old as time really, and perhaps an idiotic one. To put it bluntly. You are responsible for your own actions. Just because you see someone doing something on television or hear someone talking about something in a way certain song doesn't mean you have the right to go out and do it. Doesn't mean you have to mimic that behavior. Duh. Quit blaming media for shit parenting or non parenting. In fact, that's really the key if you boil it all down. Shit parenting is responsible for most of the ills of the world, if not all. When you start stating that sentiment out loud on Facebook, for example, you'd be surprised by the amount of outrage and self reporting you'll get. Shit parents will adamantly defend their shit parenting or no parenting or parenting via iPad. You want to cure all the ills of society? Make parents liable for what their kids do instead of television or movies or music. That'll fix society real quick. And if you can't be responsible for your shitkids, then don't fucking have them. You'd really be surprised by how many defensive asshole parents are quick to point out that you should shut up if you're not a parent yourself. As if you have to be a rocket scientist to point out that maybe the rocket shouldn't blow up on the pad. Unfortunately, all these rocket scientists parents out there there are creating more exploding rockets just to get their fuck on. Maybe one day we'll finally grow up as a society. Maybe one day we'll wake up and start taking accountability for our own goddamn actions. Maybe, just maybe, a boy can dream. Hey, the show's over. Do you know where your children are? If we may just smile or laugh or cry or God forbid, taught you something, head on over to swordskill.com and check out Plus.