An Oregon jury convicted a teen Friday of murdering and raping a 13-year-old girl after luring her to his makeshift camp in the woods.
According to Law&Crime, the jury convicted Daniel Ryan Gore of first-degree murder, rape, and sexual abuse for the 2022 death of 13-year-old Milana Lu. Prosecutors characterized him as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” who gave Milana a “false sense of security.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Li was reported missing on May 9, 2022, and initially thought to be a runaway. Beavertown police said her body was found on May 10, 2022, in a small stream in Westside Linear Park near Barrows Park, less than a mile from her home.
A medical examiner ruled Li’s death a homicide, and police subsequently arrested Gore. Court documents indicate that Gore has a criminal history dating to 2020.
Court documents indicated that Milana had been strangled to death and raped. Her body had scrapes and bruises and was hidden in a blanket and weighed down under a log, submerged in water. Investigators said a swab confirmed that the victim had been raped by Gore.
Police said Milana was found near a tent that Gore had been in living at the time.
The Oregonian reports that Gore ran away from his home in Salem several months before the murder. He and Milana became friends and spent the night in question riding a bus aimlessly before he led her to the woods and killed her.
After the murder, Gore attempted to create an alibi by going to a friend’s house and sending text messages to Milana. He also said that he and Milana had parted ways earlier in the night. However, surveillance video and cellphone data showed them together.
During the investigation of Gore’s tent, investigators uncovered an ode to horrorcore rapper 7XVN, who is infamous for his violent lyrics.
Gore also carved symbols associated with the rapper and a skull mask into a nearby tree. Investigators also found a diary with the phrase “I feel like Dexter,” referencing the fictional serial killer from Showtime’s series.
“It was his choice to take a vulnerable girl who trusted him and followed him into the woods and act out his fantasy,” Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard said.
It reportedly took the Washington County Circuit Court jury less than two hours to return the conviction.
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[Feature Photo: Milana Li/Beaverton Police Department]
