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Contested death (2000 to present)

Tete Gulley

Ruled suicide, disputedMay 27, 2019 · Age 31 · Portland, OR

Who Tete was

Tete Gulley grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Portland with her family in the couple of years before her death. Her mother said she came to Portland for a better life.

In high school she was a cheerleader, despite being bullied for it, and she loved to dance with her sister, The Stranger reported. A cousin described her as comfortable and supported, one of three queer siblings in the family. Her mother remembered her as full of joy.

In the words of those who knew them

  • “he was just so full of joy regardless of what was going on around him.”Her mother, Kenya Robinson (OPB, 2019) · source
  • “Those hands were so soft, except for that one thumb that was calloused.”Her mother, Kenya Robinson (The Stranger, 2020) · source

What happened

Tete Gulley, 31, a Black transgender woman who had moved to Portland from Kansas City, Missouri, spent the night before her death at her sister's house, according to OPB. On Memorial Day, May 27, 2019, she was found dead in Rocky Butte Park, near a campsite. OPB and REVOLT reported that the Oregon Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a suicide at the scene; The Stranger reported that Portland Police reached that conclusion after examining her body and interviewing two people.

Her family questioned the ruling. Her mother, Kenya Robinson, told OPB that people at the camp said Tete was killed, and the family said they were not able to see her body for more than a week. After the Portland Mercury raised questions, Portland Police reopened the case from June 12 to June 28, 2019, and the detective wrote that no evidence of a homicide had surfaced. The medical examiner declined records requests from reporters, citing privacy law.

In June 2020 a petition demanding a new investigation drew wide attention. In May 2021 her family gathered to celebrate her life and told KOIN they still believe she was a victim of foul play. The suicide ruling stands, and no federal review has been reported.

The case

Where found
Rocky Butte Park, near a campsite
Official finding
Suicide (Oregon Medical Examiner's Office, ruled at the scene, per OPB and REVOLT)
Time to finding
Same day
Investigation
Portland Police Bureau. After the Portland Mercury published questions about the death, police reopened the investigation from June 12 to June 28, 2019, interviewing fewer than 10 people, according to The Stranger's review of the police report obtained through a records request. The detective wrote: "No evidence indicating Gulley's death was a homicide has surfaced." KOIN reported in 2021 that police found no evidence she died from anything other than suicide.
Family position
Her family rejects the ruling and believes she was a victim of foul play (KOIN, 2021). Her mother, Kenya Robinson, told OPB that people at the camp said she was killed. Her sister, Crystal Gulley, told OPB she was not the type of person to harm herself.
Public evidence
The medical examiner denied records requests from OPB and the Portland Mercury, citing privacy law. A petition circulated in June 2020 said her mother was never given the autopsy records. The family said they could not see her body until more than a week after her death (OPB).
Federal review
None reported
Last verified
2026-10-24
Verification note: Spelling and pronouns differ by source. KOIN and REVOLT write "Tete"; OPB writes "TeTe" and its 2019 headline used her birth name; The Stranger writes "Titi." OPB said it updated some pronouns to balance the views of family, friends and advocates, and family quotes in OPB use "he"; KOIN, REVOLT and The Stranger use "she." This proposal uses "Tete" and "she," as in KOIN's 2021 report on the family's memorial. Sources also differ on who made the ruling: OPB and REVOLT say the Oregon Medical Examiner's Office; The Stranger says Portland Police determined suicide.

Sources

Record history

  1. Oct 24, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Tete Gulley
    • Age: 31
    • Date found: 2019-05-27
    • City or county: Portland
    • State: OR
    • Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
    • Where found: Rocky Butte Park, near a campsite
    • Official finding: Suicide (Oregon Medical Examiner's Office, ruled at the scene, per OPB and REVOLT)
    • Time to finding: Same day
    • Investigation: Portland Police Bureau. After the Portland Mercury published questions about the death, police reopened the investigation from June 12 to June 28, 2019, interviewing fewer than 10 people, according to The Stranger's review of the police report obtained through a records request. The detective wrote: "No evidence indicating Gulley's death was a homicide has surfaced." KOIN reported in 2021 that police found no evidence she died from anything other than suicide.
    • Family position: Her family rejects the ruling and believes she was a victim of foul play (KOIN, 2021). Her mother, Kenya Robinson, told OPB that people at the camp said she was killed. Her sister, Crystal Gulley, told OPB she was not the type of person to harm herself.
    • Public evidence: The medical examiner denied records requests from OPB and the Portland Mercury, citing privacy law. A petition circulated in June 2020 said her mother was never given the autopsy records. The family said they could not see her body until more than a week after her death (OPB).
    • Federal review: None reported
    • Verification note: Spelling and pronouns differ by source. KOIN and REVOLT write "Tete"; OPB writes "TeTe" and its 2019 headline used her birth name; The Stranger writes "Titi." OPB said it updated some pronouns to balance the views of family, friends and advocates, and family quotes in OPB use "he"; KOIN, REVOLT and The Stranger use "she." This proposal uses "Tete" and "she," as in KOIN's 2021 report on the family's memorial. Sources also differ on who made the ruling: OPB and REVOLT say the Oregon Medical Examiner's Office; The Stranger says Portland Police determined suicide.
    • Sources updated