Gay Man From Portland Found Dead in Washington DC
Former Portland gay resident Mark Gower was found dead in his apartment in Washington, DC. I did not know Mark, but this is sad. Below is the story and our thoughts and prayers are with those in our town who knew him.
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From Metro Weekly
by Yusef Najafi
Published on July 23, 2010, 5:01pm
Mark Gower (Photo courtesy of Tim White)
Mark Gower, a 26-year-old gay man from Portland, Ore., who had been living in the District since 2006, and dancing at Secrets in Southwest D.C. since March of this year, was found dead in his apartment on Thursday, July 22.
Secrets’ dancer manager Cliff Witt says officers from the Metropolitan Police Department contacted him on July 22 with news that they had found Gower inside his apartment, near the 3300 block of Mount Pleasant Street in Northwest.
”The last time anybody saw him was two weeks ago last night,” Witt told Metro Weekly Friday, July 23.
”He was supposed to work that Sunday, but he didn’t come in…. It was very unlike him. He was one of the most responsible, dependable boys that I had, so I suspected immediately that something was wrong.”
MPD have not yet released information regarding the cause of Gower’s death.
Gwendolyn Crump, director of MPD’s Office of Communications, said there is “no indication of foul play at this time.”
But Tim White, a friend of Gower’s who has been working with MPD since he went missing, says police might be investigating the matter as a homicide.
”There is actually more involved in this than I was told to begin with,” White says, ”and it’s under homicide investigation.”
White could not comment further on the circumstances surrounding Gower’s death.
Gower worked by day as an executive recruiter at Ledgent Search Group, the Accounting and Finance Division of Roth Staffing at 1660 L Street NW. A graduate of Portland State University, he was with the company since 2007. He danced at Secrets at night.
”He just had fun with it,” White says. ”He was a sweetheart.”
Tags: Mark Gower
I worked with Mark and I can tell you he was a very nice guy; one of the kindest people I have ever met. His friends in DC are shocked and deeply saddened by this terrible news. Perhaps you could post his funeral information if he is to buried in Portland. I know some of us would like to send flowers.
A memoral is to be held in marks honor fri aug 6th at the HRC equality forum in dc at the intersection of rhodeisland and 17th
I had tried to contact Mark recently because I hadn’t heard from him in a long time, not like him at all and then I came upon this. I just wanted to say a few words. I had known Mark since he was around 21. Last time i saw him was right about 2 years ago when he was visiting NJ and NY. Mark was very intelligent, independent and had great taste in music. He was both outgoing and reserved. He played the piano and liked to sing, even if he was out of tune. He was a jokester and a wandering soul, always searching for a place to call home. I hope he has found that place.. I’m sorry Mark, i wish i could have been there for you more often. “And if there is a place to find you, I will find you…”