A trans-identified male is facing charges related to the terrifying kidnapping of a special needs youth from a public train in Portland, Oregon.
Matthew Clayton Stark, 42, was arrested yesterday after violating the conditions of his zero-bail release ahead of standing trial on charges of kidnapping, coercion, and interfering with public transportation. The charges stem from a terrifying incident in January of 2022 when Stark reportedly kidnapped a vulnerable minor from a MAX Train. Stark is male, but identifies as a transgender woman named “Tru.”
According to KTVL, who referred to Stark using “she/her” pronouns, the victim is a special needs student described as “sweet and compliant toward adults.” He was riding the yellow line MAX train near the Rose Quarter Transit Center when Stark targeted him.
For reasons that are not clear, Stark reportedly muttered to the boy “that was the biggest mistake you ever made” and threatened the child with harm. He forced the victim off the train at the Interstate/Lombard station with an order to walk in front of him. Despite being in visible distress the entire time, no onlookers stopped to help the boy.
Stark marched the victim to a house in North Portland, where he dropped him off in front of the door and told him to knock and utter a cryptic phrase that “Mica” had arrived to “see his son.” The homeowner was reportedly unfamiliar with Stark and confused about the message, prompting Stark to leave. The victim then called the police, who were unable to find Stark at the time.
Police followed up the next day, and found security video from the Rose Quarter Transit Station showing Stark and victim exiting at the Interstate/Lombard station. Because Stark was of no fixed address, police were not immediately able to locate him, but a detective created a wanted poster and distributed it to various law enforcement agencies.
The next month, a transit deputy recognized Stark from the poster and arrested him.
Despite Stark being well-known to police and having an extensive criminal record, no bail was set and he was released from custody in April of 2022 under the condition he attend outpatient treatment for substance abuse.
According to a Close Street Evaluation Report, the victim’s mother stated he was so traumatized that he could not use public transportation anymore. Though Stark was categorized as a “Very High Risk” for pretrial monitoring, the release plan included no specific protections for the victim.
An arrest warrant was issued for Stark in October of 2022 after he violated his release conditions by refusing to attend his substance abuse treatment program. While he is homeless and authorities had a difficult time locating him, he was finally re-arrested on May 2.
On his Facebook, Stark has posted repeatedly about trans rights, and has even created pro-trans artwork in the form of drawings and paintings.
Stark appears to have been interested in creating art, and posted photos of hand-made drawings he made, much of which has Egyptian symbolism.
In one drawing he posted in October of 2022, two vibrant gold Pharaoh heads are seen, one of which has the words “Antifa cloaks Tru” written over it, and “all angels passover with Tru’s redline on board” beneath it.
In another post from October, Stark wrote an extended, incoherent diatribe where he suggested he was being unfairly prosecuted for being transgender.
“I refuse to lay down and die,” Stark wrote. “I won’t commit suicide. Where I am is because of my choices to stand up for my rights as a trans woman and my rights as an American citizen. That does not remove the responsibility from the hands of those people who sold me out to be killed but told all the church people they knew the conversion therapy that her uncle the marriage counselor and his church have done to me.”
He continued: “I am not their child and I didn’t do anything to hurt any children physically or in any other way. I pray that the price they pay for killing me or sending me to prison for their crimes will never be known to me. May God have mercy on your body because your soul is chained to every rapist and child beater to pass over the gates of hell. While Tru Clayton Stark (Steele?), her soul will fly with those of a like mind who also choose to stand up for what they believe even if it meant our untimely departure from the motel plane. I will stand my ground against all enemies until there are no enemies. Thank you to anyone who has said a kind word or [prayer], I truly don’t know how I would have made it without those. I will miss you all when I am gone. Goodbye, til we meet again in the next life if we are so blessed.”
Beneath the post, some of Stark’s friends expressed concern for him. One user said “love you girl,” and offered Stark access to her storage locker, to which he replied that he was going to need a tent. This interaction occurred around the same time Stark is reported to have told his substance abuse counselor that he would “rather live in a tent” than stop using drugs.
Stark is due in court later today. He has entered a plea of not guilty on his charges related to the January 2022 kidnapping, and has yet to stand trial.
UPDATE 5/3/2023: Matthew Stark appeared in court this evening where he repeatedly berated the Judge because his wristband referred to him by his male name. Stark claimed it was a violation of his human rights.
The court assured him that he had been recorded under the name “Tru” in official documentation, and addressed him by “she/her” pronouns. His pretrial bail was set at $15,000.
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