By Mike Kinney
Richmond police are investigating the murder of a homeless woman on the Richmond Greenway.
During the early morning hours of Sunday, June 14, Norvi Dzidzornu, 37, was the victim of a homicide in Carlson Meadow, close to Broadway and Carlson Boulevard, Richmond police Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy said. Police were called to the scene at 10 a.m. Sunday and found her body in a tent, Pomeroy said.
No suspects are in custody and the homicide remains under investigation, the police sergeant said.
“We have talked with a handful of people that we are treating as witnesses,” Sgt. Pomeroy said. “We do not think they are involved in the crime itself. However, we are looking for information or witnesses that may have specific information pertaining to the homicide.”
Dzidzornu reportedly resided in a tent at that location. She had been staying there for roughly 13 months, and had previously lived in an encampment across from the GRIP shelter at 22nd Street in Richmond, before the city closed the encampment, according to Daniel Barth, a homeless advocate and founder of SOS! Richmond Safe Organized Spaces.
“Ms. Dzidzornu was a very strong woman and a mother of a young teen and another child in their early 20s,” Barth said.
On Friday, the encampment that Dzidzornu called home was cleaned up by Kenneth Modica, an SOS! Richmond Safe Organized Spaces team member. The organization partners with homeless residents with the aim of keeping the Greenway clean and safe.
Dzidzornu’s belongings were neatly packed up and a small memorial had been made in her honor by Modica, with polished stones and feathers from Red Winged Sparrow Hawks and wild Turkeys.
Her items were set to be returned to a family member.
Anyone that may have information about this homicide is encouraged to call Sgt. Pomeroy at the Richmond Police Department Homicide Unit at (510) 620-6616.
