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Boston’s gay community frustrated over Yakovleff murder investigation by Sam Baltrusis
EDGE ContributorTuesday Feb 12, 2008It’s one month after 20-year-old Daniel Yakovleff was found fatally stabbed in a third-floor apartment on Tuttle Street in the Savin Hill area of Dorchester and mourners from Boston’s GLBT community are left with more questions than answers.
"Everyone is still in such shock over what happened, I don’t think we knew what to think at first," says Andrew Light, a former colleague who worked with Yakovleff for two years at the exclusive Liquid Hair Studios in Boston’s South End. "It’s hard to imagine someone you know dying in such a horrible, painful way."
Light, who fondly remembers Yakovleff as an upbeat, kind soul, says his initial shock has transformed to frustration as the facts surrounding the case slowly begin to emerge.
"Everyone is still so baffled by the murder," the 28-year-old hair stylist emotes. "It’s scary to know that someone you were close with died and the murderer is still walking around town. We just want it to be solved."
In the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 17, police discovered the body of Yakovleff with a fatal stab wound to the chest. Sources say Yakovleff was last seen leaving the Eagle bar in the South End on Wednesday, Jan. 16 and was found by authorities around 6:10 a.m. the following day.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the third-floor tenant of the apartment, Steven Odegard, told police he had picked up two men at the Eagle and brought them back to his apartment. When he woke up the following morning, Odegard called police after finding one of them had been stabbed.
Odegard, the occupant of the apartment turned crime scene, has been questioned by police and is considered a "person of interest" in the case. His attorney, John Swomley, has told reporters that his client is innocent. Sources at the scene say police escorted Odegard away early on Thursday, Jan. 17 after he dialed 911 to report the murder at his Savin Hill apartment.
Light says that Yakovleff’s friends have never met Odegard.
"None of us know who he is," Light insists. "The one thing I can say for sure is that Dan was a very good judge of character. I don’t think he would go home with some sketchy guy."
An acquaintance of Odegard, who initially met the HIV-positive Dorchester resident online, describes the "person of interest" as openly gay, in his late 30s, timid, mentally stable and not-at-all aggressive.
"He’s such a kind, gentle soul," the anonymous source remarks. "I couldn’t imagine him being involved with an attack or murder of another person--gay or straight. There’s no way he would be responsible for a premeditated, pick-up crime. The only possible scenario I could imagine is that he felt threatened or believed that his life was in danger."
"Gay people get murdered for gay-related reasons and reasons that have nothing to do with their sexual orientation, so it’s hard to know what the story is now." The source says it’s plausible that Odegard could have slept through an altercation between Yakovleff and a third party "especially if drugs or alcohol were involved."
Don Gorton, chairperson of the Boston-based Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, echoes Light’s frustration with the few facts that have emerged since Yakovleff’s body was found on Thursday, Jan. 17.
"I have a lot more questions than answers about this case and the investigators will not divulge a whole lot," Gorton remarks.
The anti-violence advocate says it’s important to investigate all facets of the crime--including a possible hate-crime motivation. However, he believes there’s not enough evidence to suggest this murder was fueled by anti-gay rage.
"Gay people get murdered for gay-related reasons and reasons that have nothing to do with their sexual orientation, so it’s hard to know what the story is now," Gorton adds.
Contrary to initial reports suggesting the fatal stabbing was motivated by hate, Light believes Yakovleff was murdered by a gay man.
"I was so paranoid the first few days after finding out about Dan’s murder," he says. "I live two blocks from the Eagle and I double bolt my door now. It’s scary."
Light continues, "I’m more afraid of gay men now because I believe a gay man killed Dan."
Police continue to search for anyone who saw Yakovleff in the Savin Hill area or in the South End in the late hours of Wednesday, Jan. 16 and the early hours of Thursday, Jan. 17. Cops are especially interested in anyone who may know who the victim was with during those hours or what kind of transportation he used. Call the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 with any information.
Yakovleff murder shines light on pick-up crime nightmare
Brutal slaying of gay man in Dorchester leaves police baffled
Sam Baltrusis has worked for WHDH-TV, CW56, MTV, VH1, Seventeen, Newsweek and as a regional stringer for The New York Times. He’s currently a full-time freelance editor/writer based in Boston. Check out his blog at loadedgunboston.blogspot.com.
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