Trail, Ore. — Two lesbian couples living in Shady Cove and Trail are uneasy after they said their tires were slashed either Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Karen Rusk, one of the victims, said she doesn’t think the act against her family and Sherri Sherwin’s family is random. She said she believes it may be a hate crime.
“I really believe we were targeted,” said Rusk.
“It was just us two, these two particular families which seems kind of ironic to me,” she continued.
She said the incident is suspicious because both she and her friend are lesbians, each raising a family with their partners.
“It’s got me a little bit on edge. I’m a little concerned for my grandchildren and my daughter,” said Rusk.
Rusk said both her family and Sherwin’s family have been approached about being gay.
“We have been told recently that our lifestyle is an abomination and we shouldn’t be raising children,” Rusk said.
On Monday, NBC5 News spoke with a lieutenant with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office who said the incident over the weekend does not appear to be a hate crime and it looks random.
However, both Rusk and Sherwin have their doubts.
“She’s in Shady Cove, I’m in Trail,” began Rusk.
“So you figure a good five miles [from each other],” she continued.
The same crimein two different places, at the homes of two lesbian families who have lived in the area for years. Rusk said she’s lived in Trail for 26 years and has never had a problem.
“I think it’s horrible. We live our lives just like everybody else. We raise our children. We pay taxes. We’re good people,” said Rusk.
“We’ve checked with everybody, asked friends and nobody else has had any problems,” she said.
Rusk said whoever did it, slashed one tire on the car parked outside her home and one tire on the car inside her carport. Sherwin said she had two tires slashed on each of her two cars.
The community has rallied around the two families involved. Dave Young’s Upper Rogue Auto Care shop helped Sherwin with her slashed tires.
“We’re all here to help out you know. We got a real tight community here,” said Jimmy Smith who works at the automotive shop.
“This community’s wonderful and I’m sorry it’s happening in our little town,” said Rusk.
With the support of friends and community members, Rusk is standing her ground, speaking out, and hoping a suspect is caught.
Rusk said she has an idea of who may be involved and she gave that information to investigators.
In the meantime, she said she’s taking extra precautions she’s never taken before. Now she has an alarm system installed at her home.
Over the phone, Sherwin said she doesn’t feel safe and she’s concerned about the well-being of her 5-year-old child.
Sherwin said she hopes investigators will be able to give her some answers soon.
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