Posted on: Wednesday, November 6, 2002

Decapitated victim remembered

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Yoko Sanders was "tall, shining, pretty and a nice person," an acquaintance said of the 38-year-old woman, who was killed Saturday in a Waikiki apartment.

Gasio Matu'u, the resident manager of Pacific International Condominium at 2509 Ala Wai Blvd., where the murder occurred, said he knew Sanders was a prostitute but described her "as a cool person despite what she was doing."

"For someone to die like that is horrific," Matu'u said. "No one deserves that."

Police have said that Sanders was known to be a prostitute. Her body was found in unit 504 Saturday.

She had been strangled, stabbed and decapitated.

Police have charged 39-year-old Donald Barry Marks with second-degree murder. Marks has been renting unit 506B for about three to five months, Matu'u said.

Sanders, a Mo'ili'ili resident, was killed in unit 504, which she and another woman used as a "trick pad."

The two women had an agreement with the owner to use the apartment and Matu'u said they've been coming there once or twice a week for about four months.

"About three or four years ago, Yoko was part of a group of prostitutes that used other units," Matu'u said. "Those people gave us a lot of problems and were evicted. Yoko broke away from them. She had a set clientele and I've never had any complaints from residents about her."

Marks, however, was a problem, Matu'u said.

"We've had minor complaints, like stealing plants, but since he recently lost his (chef's) job, it's been bad," Matu'u said. "His girlfriend moved out about two weeks ago. He has been drinking a lot. I know because I've been picking up the beer bottles."

Matu'u had never seen Sanders and Marks together until last Friday. Sanders had an earlier appointment with a client, according to security videotapes, Matu'u said. At about 11:30 p.m., Sanders and Marks are seen together on videotape in the lobby, he said.

"I'm sure they hadn't met until then," Matu'u said.