Jury selection to begin in Beaverton teen's murder trial

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the murder trial of Daniel Gore, the teen accused of killing 13-year-old Milana Li more than two years ago.

Gore was 16 when he was first charged with the first-degree murder of Li, who was reported missing by her mother on May 9, 2022 and later found dead in Westside Linear Park.

A little after 2 p.m. the next day, Beaverton Police officers responding to a “suspicious circumstances” call found her body in a small stream at the park near the intersection of SW Barrows Road and SW Horizon Boulevard.

The spot where Li’s body was found was about a half-mile down the trail from her family’s apartment, where she was last seen by her mother around 4 p.m. on May 8, authorities said. Beaverton police initially classified the case as a runaway.

The medical examiner conducted an autopsy on May 11 and Li’s death was officially ruled a homicide by strangulation.

At the time of his arrest, Gore was on probation for previous non-violent offenses including theft, arson and criminal mischief.

Then in May 2023, a Washington County judge confirmed Gore would be tried as an adult.

The prosecution and defense expect the jury selection to take some time. Opening statements are set to begin in the case on November 12.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.