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Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Woman Beaten to Death on Emeryville's Mean Streets

Emeryville resident Hayok Kay was beaten to death by an unknown assailant where she slept over the last couple of years; on the sidewalk on San Pablo Avenue in front of the CVS Pharmacy police said.  Police are looking for the suspect in the horrific killing, Emeryville's first since 2012.
The beating took place early in the morning on July 6th and by the time Emeryville police arrived at the scene, Ms Kay was unconscious.  She was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland where she later lapsed into a coma from extensive brain injuries due to the attack and was pronounced dead on August 18th after doctors removed her from life support.

Hayok Kay 1954-2015
Murdered in Emeryville
A native of Seoul South Korea but a longtime Emeryville resident and fixture, Hayok Kay, 61, lived for many years without a home and at the margins in town.  She performed as a drummer the '80's post punk band Polkacide and in several Bay Area all girl punk bands many years ago but more recently made her living by recycling in Emeryville and West Oakland.  Ms Kay's gender and her small stature, unusual for people living with homelessness on the streets, made her well known by the clannish local recycler population, many of whom felt protective of her.  After her partner, the landscape painter Fred Griffing died some years ago, she lost the shelter of the car she shared with him and was flung to the streets.
 
Hayok, known affectionately as 'Miss Kay' by her many friends was the subject of a recent film, Dogtown Redemption, on the lives of people living with homelessness in West Oakland and Emeryville.  Sadly, film director and producer Amir Soltani was prescient in 2013 when, upon the release of his film, he predicted Ms Kay would not last long on the streets, "A diminutive and much diminished Asian-American woman, Miss Kay is easy prey.  Amongst the recyclers, her chances of survival are by far the worst."

The City of Emeryville has no policy or programs or shelter for people experiencing homelessness and they usually get pushed around town by police responding to complaints.  The exposed sidewalks around CVS Pharmacy where Ms Kay was beaten to death is a place where encampments are common for people now after the City fenced off the nearby former bike/pedestrian path known as the Pixar Bike Path, a place people without shelter found attractive because of its relative off the street safety.   Emeryville police refused to comment further on the case still under investigation by the Alameda County District Attorney.

14 comments:

  1. It's not like it's a tough call, it's pretty much a sure thing when you live on the streets, you're going to die. She knew it was coming but she did nothing about it to correct her situation.

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    1. People are free to comment here but we would not be sad if you were to keep your vile thoughts to yourself. Please don't read the Tattler.

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    2. I thought everyone was free to post their thoughts and opinions. I guess you prefer to restrict the right of free speech!

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    3. Thank you for blaming the victim. Stay classy

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    4. Dear Anonymous, life without empathy and compassion is pretty threadbare. Dogtown Redemption is really good movie and I can recommend it to you as a window into the world of people on the streets.

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  2. Thank you for posting this touching tribute. I knew Miss Kay, but not well. I think it is important that we honor life and mark her passing. I am always sad when familiar faces vanish from our neighborhood.

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    1. This person was not nice. She would steal from local businesses and be abusive to their staff, but this does not mean they deserved death or beatings. I did not care to be yelled at or spit on, but this is still sad

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  3. Sad news indeed. It was only last week that I gave Hayok Kay money... I will miss her presence..

    Richard Ambro
    Emeryville

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    1. Well, you couldn't have given her money last week. It would have had to have been at least three weeks ago. Perhaps it seems as if it were only last week.

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    2. How do you know when Richard gave money to Miss Kay? He might have offered money at the hospital. You should not assume anything in your comments.

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    3. She died August 18, Richard commented on September 9, minus 7 = September 2. Gave money after September 1 to someone who died August 18. You didn't read the story yet you've got a pudknocker opinion.

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  4. very sorry to hear this! i often passed her on the street and she always gave me a smile.

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  5. I knew Hayok back in 1975 when she was my friend Ward Abronski's girlfriend. She was lovely, fun and very talented. Sad ending to what could have been a beautiful life. RIP dear Hayok.

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  6. As we grieve, God's heart breaks for the loss of a precious soul His Son Jesus died for. I was moved to share Christ's message of salvation many times with Hayok while doing street ministry on San Pablo. Some of her buddies who hang out next door to me, simply called her Mimi. I was touched by their attempt to visit
    Hayok at Highland Hospital.Despite being turned away for security reasons,they showed me that they cared.

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