Tina Hoang identified as the dead woman found on California beach
A woman found dead face down in the sand in Newport Beach, Calif. on Monday has been identified on Friday and authorities say she faced prostitution charges in three states, CBS affiliate KTLA reports.
Tina Hoang, a 20-year-old mother, of Bellflower, California, spent a good deal of time in the criminal justice system, police and court records show.
She had been arrested on suspicion of prostitution-related crimes in California, Nevada and Florida. Police had described the death as suspicious and sent out photos of her tattoos.
“I just read the horrible news this afternoon,” lawyer David Nisson said shortly after police released two pics of his client showing a distinctive tattoo of flowers and stars on the right side of her face.
“She was a very nice girl. I was just very shocked to hear that.”
Nisson told press that he last saw Hoang on February 26 and she was released from the Orange County Jail the next day. She had been picked up in Anaheim on suspicion of loitering to commit prostitution.
“I feel so terrible for her baby,” he added referring to her child born in January, stating that he did not know who was caring for the child.
“I almost feel guilty because I helped her get out of jail.”
Hoang was arrested multiple times in 2011 and 2012 in Las Vegas on suspicion of prostitution, trespassing, and loitering in and entering a casino as a minor, said Laura Meltzer, a spokeswoman with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Hoang also had charges pending against her on three prostitution-related arrests in Anaheim between August 2011 and December 2012, according to the Anaheim city attorney’s office.
She was scheduled to appear Friday in court in Van Nuys on prostitution charges.